Charged with Murder or Attempted Murder in New York? You Need a Trial Attorney Who Has Won These Cases.

When a homicide charge lands, the stakes are absolute — decades in prison or life without parole. I have spent more than 30 years as an NYC murder defense lawyer defending clients facing the most serious charges the state can bring, and I have the acquittals to prove it works.

TROPHY

LAW FIRM

What You're Up Against — and Why the First Days Matter Most

Murder and attempted murder charges in New York carry consequences that reach across an entire lifetime. A conviction for Murder in the First Degree carries a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Second degree murder — the charge most defendants face — carries 15 to 25 years to life. Attempted murder charges are not far behind.


Prosecutors move fast. Evidence gets locked in. Witnesses get interviewed. Decisions made in the hours and days after an arrest can permanently shape the outcome of your case. Retaining an experienced homicide attorney before your arraignment is not a formality — it is one of the most consequential decisions you will make.

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How I Defend Murder and Attempted Murder Charges in New York

No two homicide cases are built the same way. My defense strategy is built around the specific facts, evidence, and people in your case — not a template. That said, there are consistent pressure points in every murder prosecution that I examine from the moment I take a case.

Step 1:

Forensic and Physical Evidence

I scrutinize every piece of physical evidence the prosecution intends to use — ballistics, DNA, surveillance footage, medical examiner findings. Chain of custody failures, lab errors, and misinterpreted forensic data are more common than prosecutors want juries to believe.

Step 2:

Witness Credibility and Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness identification is among the most unreliable forms of evidence in the criminal justice system, yet it convicts people every year. I examine how identifications were obtained, whether lineups were conducted properly, and whether a witness has any motive to lie or misremember.

Step 3:

Constitutional Violations

If law enforcement violated your Fourth or Fifth Amendment rights — through an unlawful search, a coerced statement, or an improper interrogation — I move to suppress that evidence before it ever reaches a jury.

Step 4:

Affirmative Defenses and Mitigating Circumstances

Depending on the facts, justification defenses, lack of intent, and mitigating circumstances can be the difference between a conviction and an acquittal — or between a Murder 1 verdict and a lesser charge. I evaluate every available avenue before trial strategy is set.

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Charges I Defend at This Level

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Murder in the First Degree (Penal Law § 125.27)

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Murder in the Second Degree (Penal Law § 125.25)

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Attempted Murder in the First and Second Degree

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Felony Murder

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Manslaughter in the First and Second Degree

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Criminally Negligent Homicide

If your charge involves a related violent crime, I also handle robbery, burglary, and assault cases across New York.

What 30 Years of Homicide Defense Looks Like in Practice

I am a trial attorney. I do not take cases with the intention of pleading them out — I prepare every case as if it will go in front of a jury, because that posture is what produces the best outcomes at every stage, including negotiation.


My record includes acquittals on murder charges. I have appeared in courts across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, and I carry direct working relationships with the clerks, judges, and prosecutors who handle these cases. That institutional knowledge is not incidental — it shapes how I read a case and how I position it.


I am also an adjunct professor at New York University and St. John's University, and a published author in the New York Law Journal. I teach the law I practice. That depth matters when a life sentence is on the table.

You Speak Directly with Me — Not a Paralegal, Not a Junior Associate

I am a solo practitioner. When you call my office, I answer. When you have questions about your case at 11 p.m., you reach me — not someone reading from a file. For clients and families who are more comfortable in Spanish, Maria provides interpretation at every stage of representation.


Payment plans are available through LawPay. A murder charge should not mean your family has to navigate it without experienced counsel because of financial strain.

Frequently Asked Questions About Murder Charges in New York

  • What is the difference between first and second degree murder in New York?

    Murder in the First Degree requires a specific intent to kill combined with an aggravating factor — such as killing a police officer, a witness, or committing murder for hire. Second degree murder is the more common charge and covers intentional killings without those aggravating factors, as well as deaths that result from depraved indifference to human life. Both carry severe sentences, but the distinction matters significantly for defense strategy.

  • How do you beat a murder charge in NY?

    There is no universal answer, but the most effective defenses attack the prosecution's evidence at its weakest points — unreliable eyewitness identification, forensic evidence that doesn't hold up to scrutiny, constitutional violations in how the investigation was conducted, or an affirmative justification defense. The earlier I am retained, the more options exist. Evidence can be preserved, witnesses can be interviewed before their memories are shaped by prosecutors, and suppression motions can be filed before trial.

  • What sentence does an attempted murder charge carry in New York?

    Attempted murder in the second degree is a Class B violent felony, carrying a minimum of five years and a maximum of 25 years in state prison. Attempted murder in the first degree is a Class A-I felony, with a minimum of 15 to 25 years. These are not charges to approach without a trial attorney who has handled them before.

  • Can a murder charge be reduced to manslaughter?

    Yes, and in some cases that is a meaningful outcome depending on the facts. Manslaughter charges carry significantly shorter sentences than murder convictions. Whether a reduction is achievable depends on the evidence, the specific circumstances of the case, and the strength of the defense. I evaluate every case individually — I do not make promises, but I do explore every option.

  • Do I need a lawyer before my arraignment on a murder charge?

    Yes. Arraignment is where bail is set, and in murder cases, the prosecution will argue for remand — meaning no bail at all. Having an experienced attorney present at arraignment gives you the best chance of making a bail argument and begins the process of shaping how your case is framed from day one. Do not wait.

If Someone You Love Has Been Arrested for Murder, Call Now

Every hour without experienced legal representation is an hour the prosecution uses to build its case. I handle murder and attempted murder charges across New York City and the surrounding counties — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County.


Call my office now. I answer personally.