Practice Areas

• Accessory After the Fact
• Arson
• Assault & Battery
• Battery on a Peace Officer
• Assault with a Firearm
• Battery
• Assault with a Deadly Weapon
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• Carrying a Concealed Weapon
• Child Endangerment
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• Criminal Threats
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• Marijuana Possession for Sales
• Drug Possession for Personal Use
• Drug Possession for Sale
• DUI Defense
• I've been arrested for DUI. What happens to my Driver's License?
• DUI Under 21
• The 'Rising Blood Alcohol' Defense
• Attacking the Breath Test
• The "No Driving" Defense
• I've been arrested & cited for DUI? What happens next?
• Attacking the Blood Test
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• Pre-Filing Investigations
• Professional & Vocational License Defense
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• Three Strikes Law
• Vacating Convictions
• Deportable Offenses: Vacating Your Guilty Plea to Avoid Deportation
• Vandalism
• Vehicular Manslaughter
• Warrant Recall
• Weapons Charges
• Witness Intimidation

Three First-Degree Murder Defenses

Without a doubt, it is the job of Torrance criminal defense lawyers to act as advocates for your case. As such, it is important to work with criminal defense attorneys who are both knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to properly defending you.

Some of the first-degree murder defenses that can be utilized by a California-based criminal defense lawyer include:

#1 - Mistaken Identity Argument

In some first-degree murder cases, a "mistaken identity" defense can be utilized. The criminal defense attorney would argue that the wrong individual was charged for the murder. To prove that the wrong person was in fact charged, the defense lawyer can offer an alibi. In addition - or if an alibi is not available - the attorney also can provide evidence that proves that the defendant was somewhere else at the time of the killing, that another person killed the individual, that eyewitness testimony is flawed, that forensic evidence is flawed in some manner, etc.

#2 - Self-Defense Argument

In other first-degree murder cases, a self-defense argument can be utilized by the criminal defense lawyer. However, in order to prove a self-defense argument, the defense lawyer must show that the defendant used a timely and reasonable amount of force as defense. In other words, the force used by the defendant was proportional to the perceived threat.

#3 - Defense of Others Argument

Another defense that can be used in first-degree murder cases is the "defense of others" argument. Once again, the criminal defense lawyer must prove that the force used by the defendant was timely and proportional to the perceived threat.

Of course, each individual case varies, and your Torrance criminal defense lawyer will determine which defense best suits your particular case.

Have you or someone you know been arrested for a murder charge? Contact McGregor & Ernenwein to obtain a completely free consultation with one of our experienced Torrance criminal defense attorneys.