Facing the Most Serious Criminal Charge

An accusation of homicide—whether it’s Murder, Manslaughter, or Criminally Negligent Homicide—is the most serious charge anyone can face in the Alabama criminal justice system. A conviction carries the harshest possible penalties, including decades in prison, life without the possibility of parole, or even the death penalty. When your life and liberty are on the line, you need a defense attorney with the experience, tenacity, and resources to handle the immense pressure of a high-stakes homicide case.

At Mark Bishop Turner Attorney At Law, we understand the gravity of these allegations. We provide an aggressive, sophisticated, and unflinching defense for individuals in Birmingham accused of taking a human life. We know that the prosecution will bring the full force of the state’s resources against you, and we are prepared to meet that force with an even greater level of preparation and legal skill. Our approach is meticulous, involving in-depth investigation, collaboration with leading forensic experts, and a powerful courtroom presence designed to protect your constitutional rights and fight for your freedom.

Understanding Homicide Charges in Alabama
Alabama law defines several distinct criminal homicide offenses, each with different elements and potential penalties.

• Murder: This is the most severe charge. A person commits murder if:
  • They intentionally cause the death of another person.
  • Under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life, they recklessly engage in conduct that creates a grave risk of death and thereby cause the death of another. (e.g., firing a gun into a crowd).
  • They cause a death during the commission of certain dangerous felonies like robbery, rape, or burglary (the “felony-murder rule”).
  • They cause the death of a law enforcement officer or a child under 14.
    Murder is a Class A Felony, with a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison.
• Capital Murder: This is murder under specific aggravating circumstances, such as murder for hire, murder of two or more people, or murder during a kidnapping or robbery. Capital murder is the only crime in Alabama punishable by death or life in prison without parole.
• Manslaughter: This is a lesser charge than murder. A person commits manslaughter (a Class B Felony) if they:
  • Recklessly cause the death of another person.
  • Cause the death of another person under circumstances that would be murder, but they acted in the “heat of passion” caused by a provocation recognized by law.
    A conviction carries a sentence of two to twenty years in prison.
• Criminally Negligent Homicide: This is the least severe homicide charge (a Class A Misdemeanor). It occurs when a person causes the death of another through criminal negligence—a failure to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that results in death.

Building an Elite Defense for a Homicide Charge
Defending a homicide case is an incredibly complex undertaking that requires a masterful command of the law, evidence, and trial strategy. Our defense is built from the ground up and leaves no stone unturned.

• Independent Investigation: We never rely on the police’s version of events. Our team, which may include private investigators, will conduct a parallel investigation. We re-interview witnesses, find new witnesses the police may have missed, and visit the crime scene to analyze every detail.
• Challenging Forensic Evidence: Homicide cases often hinge on forensic evidence like DNA, ballistics, fingerprints, and blood spatter analysis. We work with our own network of highly respected forensic experts to scrutinize the state’s evidence. We challenge the methods of collection, the chain of custody, and the conclusions drawn by the prosecution’s experts.
• Asserting Affirmative Defenses:
  • Self-Defense: This is a critical defense in many homicide cases. If you reasonably believed you were in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, you have the right to use deadly force to protect yourself. We will work to establish that the deceased was the initial aggressor and that your actions were justified.
  • Alibi: We will work to prove you were somewhere else at the time the crime was committed, using evidence like witness testimony, surveillance footage, and digital records.
  • Misidentification: Eyewitness accounts can be flawed, especially in traumatic situations. We challenge lineups, photo arrays, and in-court identifications that may be unreliable.
  • Insanity or Mental Defect: In some cases, a defendant’s mental state at the time of the offense can be a viable defense.
• Mitigation: In the event of a conviction, our work is not over. We present a powerful case for mitigation at sentencing, highlighting factors in our client’s background, character, and the circumstances of the offense to argue for the most lenient sentence possible.

Your Life is on the Line. Choose Your Defender Wisely.
Facing a homicide charge is the fight of your life. The attorney you choose can be the single most important factor in the outcome of your case. Mark Bishop Turner has the courage, experience, and dedication required to stand between you and the state. We are committed to providing a defense that is as relentless as the prosecution you face.

If you or a family member has been arrested or is under investigation for a homicide in Birmingham, do not speak to anyone. Your first and only call should be to our firm. Contact Mark Bishop Turner Attorney At Law immediately for a confidential consultation.