Attempted Murder Solicitor

Attempted Murder Solicitor

Attempted murder is an incredibly serious offence. If you are accused of such a crime, we understand you and your family will be feeling extremely anxious. Attempted murder cases are fraught with difficulties and require careful handling and meticulous preparation. Issues relating to the Defendant’s state of mind and constant developments in forensic techniques and evidence mean that anyone facing these allegations needs robust representation from specialist Criminal Defence Solicitors. They have the necessary skills to quickly identify the issues in the case and present them convincingly to a Judge and/or jury.

At Reeds, our team of leading in-house Barristers and Criminal Defence Solicitors are frequently instructed to represent Defendants charged with either murder or manslaughter, and as such have developed a wealth of experience in this highly specialised area of criminal defence law.

Our Solicitors are regularly mentioned in the Legal 500 and in 2023, we were named one of the UK’s top law firms by The Times, specially commended for criminal law.

‘Stuart Mathews has a razor-sharp intellect and superb client care skills. He is a ferociously hard worker and takes time to unpick a case. Julian Richards brings his huge experience of criminal law to each case and thereby creates a very calm, forensic approach to his work. Clients love him.’ – Legal 500

A conviction for attempted murder can result in life imprisonment. Therefore, you must have an experienced, knowledgeable Attempted Murder Solicitor fighting in your corner who understands police procedures and the tactics and strategies of Crown Court Prosecutors.

By instructing Reeds Solicitors, you can trust that our team will:

  • Find out the suspicions the police have regarding your involvement in the offence and any evidence they have concerning those suspicions.
  • If you have been arrested, analyse the custody record, and talk with the Custody Officer to ensure proper police procedure was followed.
  • Attend a police interview under caution to provide you with legal advice and ensure the interviewer does not exceed their powers and follows the Code of Practice that sets out how an interview under caution should be conducted.
  • If you are charged in connection with attempted murder, we will investigate the police evidence, and build a defence based on witness statements, forensics, and expert evidence concerning the circumstances surrounding the event that led to you being charged.
  • Instruct expert Criminal Defence Barristers/King’s Counsel and attend Court, as well as provide you with advice and support when required, including whether to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • If you are found guilty, we will prepare submissions to the Court to mitigate the severity of the sentence handed down. We will also advise you on whether there are grounds to appeal the Judge or jury’s decision.

It is vital that you instruct an experienced Criminal Law Solicitor if you are being investigated or charged with attempted murder. Proceedings concerning such cases are always extremely detailed, and include evidence from not only the police investigations, but also the latest forensic techniques, such as DNA. Our extensive experience of dealing with such matters has resulted in us developing excellent working relationships with the best qualified scientific, medical, and forensic experts in their respective fields; an essential part of being able to effectively deal with the sort of highly complex issues that arise in attempted murder cases.

The circumstances of such cases often have underlying mental health difficulties which impact upon the necessary element of ‘intent.’ Our solicitors also have vast experience in working with defendants who have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act following an incident taking place. We are used to obtaining expert medical reports and challenging the Prosecution case from an early stage in proceedings.

Why Choose Us?

At Reeds Solicitors we are committed to working tirelessly on an attempted murder matter because we know how serious the consequences can be if you are convicted. We will do everything it takes to defend you including tracing witnesses, tracking down CCTV, instructing the best experts (either in the UK or overseas) and Counsel, and/or visiting the scene. We are considered the number one criminal defence law firms in the country.

The Prosecution will often present their case theory to the jury which is likely to be at the highest level of culpability. We will work to dispel untrue Prosecution motives for any incident and challenge the admissibility of evidence going before the Court.

Defending an attempted murder charge requires particular levels of skill, confidence, and seniority. By instructing us, you can trust that you have the best chance of achieving a successful result and seeing justice done.

Our Criminal Defence Solicitors have the expertise and experience required to advise and represent you. Please contact us through our contact page here. Alternatively, you can phone 0333 240 7373, or email us at info@reeds.co.uk.

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FAQ

Attempted murder occurs when the Prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that the Defendant tried to kill a living human being but was unsuccessful. The mental intention for attempted murder is higher than that of murder as the Prosecution must prove that the Defendant tried to kill the other person at a specified time. To gain a conviction for murder, the Prosecution only need to prove the Defendant intended to cause grievous bodily harm. The intent to actually commit murder is not necessary. The jury can decide from the evidence presented whether the Defendant in a murder trial actually intended to kill the deceased.

Section 4(1) of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 provides the test for attempted murder. The Prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the Defendant did something that was ‘more than merely preparatory’. A classic example of this is the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The conspirators planned to blow up Parliament and kill the King and other prominent statesmen of the time. Not only were 36 barrels of gunpowder hidden under piles of faggots and coal discovered in an undercroft beneath the House of Lords, Guy Fawkes himself had on his person a watch, several matches, and touchwood. The conspirators who gave us Guy Fawkes night definitely went further than making mere preparations.

Multiple sources of evidence are used to prove the crime of attempted murder. Much depends on the circumstances of the case. Examples of evidence that may be used include:

  • Mobile phone and email communications.
  • CCTV footage.
  • DNA and fingerprint evidence.
  • Internet browsing history.
  • Witness statements.
  • Evidence that you obtained the weapon used.
  • Your testimony.

Expert evidence may be used to help the Court understand particular matters such as DNA evidence and the Defendant’s state of mind at the time the offence was committed.

Attempted murder is an exceptionally serious offence. If you are convicted, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment. When deciding on a sentence, the Court will use the Sentencing Guidelines which provides sentences for between three and forty years. The sentencing Judge will consider aggravating factors, such aswhether a weapon was involved, the vulnerability of the victim and whether the offence was gang related or a hate crime. , The Judge would balance these against any mitigating factors put forward by the defence team, for example, genuine remorse, the age of the offender and any mental disorder or learning disability.

Where there are complex mental health difficulties involved in a case the Court can also impose Hospital Orders with restrictions on a defendant’s freedom and future. Our specialised solicitors are experienced in fighting for the best possible outcome given the particular circumstances of a case.