It does not take an attorney to tell you that murder is a serious crime with severe legal penalties. There are perhaps fewer violent crimes more well-known and widely reported on than murders, and even television shows and movies feature the crime prominently. You may think that it is not an issue that you need to worry about, since you have no intentions of ever murdering anyone, but the reality is that many murders are not premeditated, and sometimes people just snap.
Recently in Miami, a Florida woman was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after police accused her of shooting and killing her boyfriend. According to reports, the woman had been in a car accident, and her car had to be towed back to the couple’s shared residence. The couple reportedly got into a heated argument at this time, and the woman shot her boyfriend and ran. Police arrested her after she returned to the scene.
Of course the history of this couple’s relationship is not readily available, so it is possible that they have a record of domestic disputes, but it is just as possible that they don’t often argue, and that this incident was a rare occurrence that happened in the heat of the moment. We have all had times when a series of misfortunes makes our day difficult, and the smallest confrontations can cause us to lose our temper. Depending on how upset you may be and if you have a weapon available, anyone could conceivably cause serious injury to another person.
You may think that you have control over your emotions, and it is likely that in the vast majority of circumstances you do. Unfortunately, it only takes one momentary lapse of judgement to commit a serious crime. If this happens to you, it is highly advisable that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible to begin mounting a defense for your case.
Source: NBC Miami, “Woman Charged in Shooting Death of Boyfriend: Police,” Cherine Akbari, May 3, 2015
