Because of the holding in People v Watson, you may be charged with second-degree murder under California Penal Code section 187.
You may be charged under the Watson murder rule if another person dies as a result of you driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
What the prosecution needs to convict you of a Watson Murder
To convict you under the Watson murder rule, the prosecution will have to prove:
• you committed an act that caused the death of another,
• you knew that driving while intoxicated was dangerous to human life, AND • you killed without lawful justification
If you have a prior DUI conviction, the prosecutor will use this to prove that you knew driving while intoxicated was dangerous to other people.
The way that the prosecutor uses your prior conviction to prove you knew it was dangerous to human life to drive while intoxicated is because when you plead guilty to a DUI in California you must initial and sign a box that states that you are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving. This is very powerful evidence in the hands of the prosecutor in a Watson Murder case
DUI Second Degree Murder Defense
You need an experienced criminal defense attorney to fight for you if you are facing Watson murder charges. The attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have obtained positive outcomes for clients charged with Watson murder for over thirty years.
If you have been charged with violating the Watson murder rule, it is essential to your defense that you contact an attorney early on in your case. Depending on the facts of your case, your defense attorney from Wallin & Klarich might be able to lessen your charge or your sentence.
Being charged with Watson murder can be traumatic and frightening. You will have a lot of questions and you want someone who can answer them. At Wallin & Klarich, we provide prompt responses to all of your questions.
If you or a loved one needs a California DUI murder defense attorney, call Wallin & Klarich at 1-888-280-6839 to speak with one of our skilled attorneys today. We will be there when you call.
