Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney Mark D. Hauser

Are you facing a murder trial? You need an experienced murder trial attorney. You need Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney Mark D. Hauser. Mark will defend first degree murder cases, and second degree murder cases in the Greater Philadelphia area. You do not want to miss your chance to hear a judge say, "not guilty"! Hire PA Murder Defense Attorney Mark D. Hauser today!

Murder: First Degree

In most states, first-degree murder is defined as an unlawful killing that is both willful and premeditated, meaning that it was committed after planning or "lying in wait" for the victim.

For example, Dan comes home to find his wife in bed with Victor. Three days later, Dan waits behind a tree near Victor's front door. When Victor comes out of the house, Dan shoots and kills him.

Most states also adhere to a legal concept known as the "felony murder rule," under which a person commits first-degree murder if any death (even an accidental one) results from the commission of certain violent felonies -- usually arson, burglary, kidnapping, rape, and robbery.

For example, Dan and Connie rob Victor's liquor store, but as they are fleeing, Victor shoots and kills Dan. Under the felony murder rule, Connie can be charged with first-degree murder for Dan's death.

Murder: Second degree

Second-degree murder is ordinarily defined as

an intentional killing that is not premeditated or planned, nor committed in a reasonable "heat of passion" or
a killing caused by dangerous conduct and the offender's obvious lack of concern for human life.

Second-degree murder may best be viewed as the middle ground between first-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.

For example, Dan comes home to find his wife in bed with Victor. At a stoplight the next day, Dan sees Victor riding in the passenger seat of a nearby car. Dan pulls out a gun and fires three shots into the car, missing Victor but killing the driver of the car.