Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer - Negligent Homicide Attorney

Under Utah criminal law, a charge of negligent homicide can be filed in cases where a death was caused by another person's criminally negligent conduct. Although the charge is only a class A misdemeanor, it can still result in up to a year in jail and thousands of dollars in fines. Stephen Howard is an experienced Utah criminal lawyer who has defended clients facing murder, aggravated murder, manslaughter, and negligent homicide, as well as thousands of other serious felony and misdemeanor cases. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.

Elements of a Criminal Charge for Negligent Homicide in Utah

A charge of negligent homicide does not require proof that the defendant intended to cause a death or acted with any malice or ill will toward the other person. The charge does not even require proof of recklessness on the part of the defendant. Instead, under Utah law a charge of criminal negligence only requires proof of an accidental death that resulted from conduct that constituted a "gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise" given the circumstances or risks that were involved in the situation.

If you have been involved in a traffic accident that resulted in a fatality, you could potentially be charged with negligent homicide. If alcohol was involved in the accident, a more serious charge of automobile homicide could be filed.

Contact a Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer in Salt Lake City

Stephen Howard is an experienced and effective Utah criminal defense attorney who has handled homicide cases including aggravated murder, child abuse homicide, and negligent homicide. Whenever a criminal case involves a death, the emotions on both sides can run high. Prosecutors and judges often feel pressure from a victim's family to impose the maximum penalty. If you are facing any kind of homicide charge, you deserve to have a criminal attorney on your side who has a record of success.

Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney Stephen Howard offers legal services to clients throughout Utah. Contact us now to schedule an initial consultation and case analysis.