Hackensack Murder Attorneys

Murder in New Jersey is arguably the most serious crime you or a loved one can be charged with. It is a first (1st) degree crime. However, murder defers from a regular first degree crime. First degree crimes in New Jersey are usually a maximum of twenty (20) years in state prison. Murder is a minimum of thirty (30) years in state prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.

At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our office has the following credentials, knowledge, experience, and man-power to help you or your loved one:

  • Eleven (11) criminal defense attorneys on staff
    • Combined together, over 200 years of experience
  • Eight (8) former prosecutors on staff
    • Four (4) were former county prosecutors who’ve all tried high-profiled murders before a jury during their tenure as prosecutors
  • Multiple attorneys selected to either the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 or Top 40 Under 40
  • Two (2) attorneys selected to Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for criminal defense
    • Only 2.5% of attorneys in New Jersey are selected to said list
  • One (1) attorney certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney
    • Less than 1% of attorneys hold this distinction in New Jersey

Homicide Charge in Bergen County N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3

Murder is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3. The statute states, in part, that murder is defined as:

  1. The defendant purposely caused death or serious bodily injury that resulted in death; or
  2. The defendant knowingly caused death or serious bodily injury that resulted in death; or
  3. The defendant engaged in robbery, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping, carjacking, criminal escape or terrorism and during the course of any one of those crimes or the immediate flight from such crime and causes the death of another person, other than one of the co-defendants

Is there an affirmative defense for murder?

New Jersey does have an affirmative defense under the statute. It is, however, very specific and involves other co-defendants. This affirmative defense is defined under the statute as when the defendant:

  1. Did not commit the murder nor in any way solicit, request, command, importune, cause or aid the commission thereof; and
  2. Was not armed with a deadly weapon, nor any thing that is readily capable of killing someone or seriously injuring them; and
  3. Had no reasonable basis to believe that any of the other co-defendants was armed with a weapon, or instrument; and
  4. Had no reasonable basis to believe that any other co-defendants intended to engage in conduct that would likely result in death or serious bodily injury.

What penalties are there for murder?

Murder, as explained above, is a first degree crime. If you or a loved one is convicted  or pleads guilty to murder, then he or she faces the following:

  • Minimum of thirty years and a maximum of life imprisonment
    • If sentenced to thirty years then there is no parole eligibility
    • If sentenced to more than thirty years, then he/she will have to serve thirty years before becoming eligible for parole
  • Under the following circumstances, if a person is convicted of murder then they will be sentenced to life behind bars if:
    • The victim was a on-duty police officer or was killed because he was a police officer
    • The victim is less than 14 years of age

Fort Lee Homicide Attorneys

As you can see, a conviction for a murder charge can land you or a loved one behind bars for decades. Therefore, it is imperative that you or your loved one do their research before retaining a lawyer or a law firm. As stated above, we have multiple criminal attorneys on staff that have tried high-profiled murder cases. We are conveniently located in Fort Lee, Hackensack, and Paramus, NJ.