ADDRESS
1205 Milo St
Lake City, AR 72437
Committed to protecting your rights and securing your freedom
Building an effective defense against a homicide charge requires an attorney who is dedicated
to going the extra mile to win your acquittal. The skilled Jonesboro criminal defense attorney
at Lilly Law Firm, PA works diligently to test the government's evidence and build a case for
your innocence. We have the knowledge and experience to handle your criminal case and help you
move past this difficult time in your life. Unlike the bigger firms in Little Rock, we've
been in Jonesboro for more than 25 years. We have the advantage of knowing the community - and
the jury pool - in the event your case goes to trial. A slick Little Rock lawyer in a black
suit won't have the community rapport we've established over more than two decades of living
and working in Craighead County.
If you've been charged with homicide, it means the government believes you were involved in causing the death of someone, intentionally or otherwise. Arkansas law defines several different crimes related to causing the death of another person. Different elements of proof are required for the various types of homicide or murder charges. The first step in building your defense is reviewing the government's claim of wrongdoing. The government's claim is usually set forth in a charging instrument, which could be an arrest warrant or an indictment. The government is generally restricted to proving what they say happened in the charging instrument, so this document is very important. If you don't have a copy when you come see us, you can be sure that we obtain one from the government and identify the particular charge and alleged elements of the crime.
Depending on the timing of when you hire our Jonesboro criminal defense lawyer to defend you, we may have time to request a preliminary hearing. The technical purpose of a preliminary hearing is to test whether the government has probable cause. Probable cause is a minimal legal standard the government can meet by simply showing evidence that a crime probably happened and you probably committed it. Usually, the only witness for the government at a preliminary hearing is a law enforcement officer who helped investigate and build the government's case against you. The real point of asking for a preliminary hearing is not to test probable cause, but to use the hearing as a discovery tool. By requesting a preliminary hearing, we have the opportunity to question a key government witness about the alleged evidence, how the evidence was discovered and who discovered it, in addition to questioning the government about any other activity taken by the government that may amount to a violation of your constitutional rights. If the time to request a preliminary hearing has already passed, your first court appearance is arraignment, where you have a chance to enter a not guilty plea officially. Sometimes we can avoid the need to appear in court by submitting paperwork ahead of time to enter your not guilty plea.
Defending you against a homicide charge is a serious matter. At Lilly Law Firm, PA we have many criminal defense tools at our disposal in the pursuit of your freedom. When building your case, we consider every potential defense, including:
At what may be the most critical time of your life, the proficient team at Lilly Law Firm, PA delivers quality legal representation with a caring attitude. We strive to provide you with a sense of confidence that your legal team is doing everything possible to solve your problem. To schedule a complimentary consultation, call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week.