Murder cases are often not as clear-cut as simply saying that one person killed another person and then checking to see if they have an alibi or not. They can be incredibly complex. One of the best examples is when a death happens during the commission of a felony.
For instance, say that two men go into a store. They demand the money out of the register at gunpoint. One man has a prop gun, but the other actually has a loaded firearm. When the clerk refuses to hand over the money, that person shoots them.
The man with the prop gun may feel that he did not contribute to that killing. He didn’t pull the trigger. He couldn’t even have shot anyone if he wanted to. However, since the robbery was a felony and the person died, that can still lead to murder charges.
Or, say that the clerk pulls out a gun from behind the counter. The clerk shoots the man was with the loaded gun. The man with the prop gun tries to flee and gets caught. He later finds out that his accomplice died.
Interestingly, the man with the prop gun can still be charged with murder. He engaged in a felony and the other man passed away. It’s not the clerk who is guilty of murder, as it was clearly self-defense, but the other alleged criminal could still face those charges.
Those who are facing such charges must know their legal options. When these cases grow exceedingly complex, they need to know what steps to take, how their decisions can impact their future and what to do next.
