If you’re facing serious charges, such as accusations of murder, it’s natural that you want to look into every single defense option you have. The outcome of this case will define the rest of your life. You must understand your rights and the steps you can take.
One partial defense that you may consider is a crime of passion defense. This basically means that you claim you acted in the heat of the moment, perhaps due to something unexpected. Maybe there was a physical altercation, and the other person passed away, for example. But the altercation only happened because you came home and discovered that your spouse was having an affair.
But as you can see, using this as a defense means that you have to admit that you did, in fact, take the other person’s life. That’s why it is a partial defense and not a full defense, where you claim that you were not responsible. So why would you use this option?
Seeking a lesser sentence
People turn to the crime of passion defense when they’re trying to get their charges reduced so that they can get a lesser sentence.
One component of a murder charge is that it has to be premeditated and intentional. You planned in advance how you were going to take someone’s life and then enacted your plan.
But by claiming it was a crime of passion, you are demonstrating that there was no intent. You never wanted this situation to happen, you never thought about it in advance, and it was not something you were intentionally trying to do. That may mean that you are not guilty of first-degree murder, even if your plea means that you are convicted on a lesser charge.
The more you know about your legal options, the better. It can help to work with an experienced defense firm at this time.