MURDER PENNSYLVANIA | Pennsylvania Code § 2501 / § 2502

If you are charged with Murder it is important to hire a criminal defense attorney immediately. It is important to ask your lawyer the right questions with respect to the charges that are brought against the person. Different counties like Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Delaware County have various procedures with respect to a murder charge. Your lawyer should be able to explain the consequences of the charge and the elements necessary to convict the person charged with murder.

§ 2501. Criminal Homicide. 
(a) Offense defined.-A person is guilty of criminal homicide if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently causes the death of another human being. 
(b) Classification.-Criminal homicide shall be classified as murder, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter.

§ 2502. Murder. 
(a) Murder of the first degree.-A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the first degree when it is committed by an intentional killing. 
(b) Murder of the second degree.-A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the second degree when it is committed while defendant was engaged as a principal or 
an accomplice in the perpetration of a felony. 
(c) Murder of the third degree.-All other kinds of murder shall be murder of the third degree. Murder of the third degree is a felony of the firstA degree. 

Murder is the most serious offense that a person may be accused of committing. A person convicted of murder can face the death penalty in some situations. It is important to hire the right Pennsylvania Criminal Lawyer if you are charged with this crime.