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The law distinguishes between murder and manslaughter depending on how ‘culpable’ or blameworthy the person is deemed to be, his/her intention at the time of the killing and whether he/she raises a defence. The most common defences to murder are self-defence, loss of control (previously known as provocation) and diminished responsibility.

To prove conspiracy to murder, the prosecution must show that those accused were acting together, in an express or implied or assumed ‘agreement’. They must also show, with direct or circumstantial evidence, the intention to murder or intention to cause really serious injury.

If you’ve been charged, arrested or invited to the police station for an interview, you will be feeling very nervous, anxious and concerned about the situation.

Conspiracy to murder is a serious offence. If you are found guilty and convicted, a stiff sentence of imprisonment can be given, typically life imprisonment.

Securing a competent and experienced solicitor to support you throughout the investigation is vital. You will need legal help from the initial police interview through to your court appearance and the end of the trial.

As soon as you find out that you’re being investigated or are being charged with this crime, it’s essential that you seek competent legal advice immediately. By working with skilled conspiracy to murder solicitors, you may even be able to have your case dismissed before it reaches the court stage.

Have you been arrested or charged with Conspiracy to Murder?

If you or somebody close to you has been charged or arrested in connection with a charge of conspiracy to murder, it will make you feel anxious and nervous about what’s going to happen.

In some cases, people are accused of playing a role, but in reality, they haven’t. In cases of this nature, it’s crucial that you get your name cleared and any connection to the crime removed.

To help explain the legal framework of a conspiracy to murder charge, we’ve put these commonly asked questions together with their answers. If you have a question that is not listed here, you can use our contact form to get an answer.

We aim to support you in every way we can while you go through this challenging time.

What type of actions are considered for Conspiracy to Murder?

A conspiracy to murder is when two or more people agree to a course of action that will result in the unlawful killing of another person. It may be that they had the intention to kill or to cause grievous bodily harm.

The role of the prosecution is to prove that the accused were acting together with some type of ‘agreement’ between them. This might be implied or assumed, but causing very serious injury or death was intended.

Examples of this might be street fighting that has taken a wrong turn, gangland fights using firearms or robbery conspiracies that have resulted in the death of several people.

What happens in a case of Conspiracy to Murder?

Being under investigation for conspiracy to murder can be very stressful. The accused are likely to feel nervous and anxious as they wonder what might be the outcome of the case. They will feel concerned about how their dependents will manage without them if they are found to be guilty and convicted.

When it comes to an investigation of this nature, it’s essential that you engage the services of an experienced lawyer with in-depth knowledge of this field.

Conspiracy to murder trials are held at the crown court before a judge and a jury. There may be an appearance at the magistrates court prior to the case being sent to the crown court. Then all hearings will be held at the crown court.

There will typically be a lot of evidence for the court to examine. This will include evidence collected by SOCOs (Scene of Crime Officers) and other forensic findings. There’s likely to be fingerprints, DNA deposits, blood splatters and footprints which will all contribute to deciding who did what during the murder.

In addition, there will be evidence collected from mobile phones, social media messages, WhatsApp and other communication methods.

Anybody involved in a case of this nature will find it incredibly stressful and worrying to take part. It’s vital that you use a solicitor experienced in all aspects of a murder trial including using expert witnesses to craft a strong defence.

Every conspiracy to murder case is unique. However, whatever your situation, being able to speak with a competent and skilful  legal professional will help you gain some peace of mind. It is challenging to navigate a trial of this nature, you need support and feel that you have the right lawyers to get you the best possible outcome.

HAVE YOU been falsely accused of Conspiracy to murder?

In some cases, people have been falsely accused of conspiracy to murder. If you feel this has happened to you, it’s vital that you get a strong defence team to give you the support and backing that you need.

It’s crucial that you get your case dismissed before it reaches the court stage.

For example, it’s not uncommon for a prosecution to accuse a person with conspiracy to murder in order to uncover who was actually involved in the crime. A robust legal team are equipped to recognise a mud-throwing exercise that needs to be challenged before it gets to court.

Without a lawyer, you cannot find out more until the interview

If you discover that you or your loved one are under investigation as part of a conspiracy to murder charge, it’s typical to be invited to the police station for an interview.

One of the tactics the police use is to not disclose all the evidence until it suits them to do so. Without knowing all the evidence that they have on you, you may inadvertently incriminate yourself by not knowing how to respond in the best way to some of their questions. This is where the value of a good lawyer comes into play.

Instruct a legal professional as soon as possible

You should not attend a police interview without the support of a competent criminal solicitor.

Probing questions that are asked in a high-pressure environment can be difficult to navigate. You may find it very upsetting. The police will try to get you to say something to incriminate yourself while withholding evidence that they have obtained to prove their case against you. They are looking to gain a conviction.

Without guidance, there is a chance that you will be charged at the end of the interview with conspiracy charges.

Can the police search my home?

The police will make a request to the court for a search warrant so that they can legally search your home and possibly your workplace for evidence. They will search for evidence on phone bill statements, money transfers and unexplained assets. They may put you and your family and connections under surveillance.

Could you go to prison for Conspiracy to Murder?

If you’re found guilty of conspiracy to murder, you will be imprisoned for a lengthy term, usually a life sentence. Of course, this will be a worrying time for you and your family. For these reasons, it’s crucial that you take the right steps to protect the wellbeing of you and your family.

It’s imperative that you engage a criminal solicitor or murder lawyer who handles conspiracy to murder cases regularly.

What type of sentence could you get for Conspiracy to Murder?

Conspiracy to murder is one of the most severe offences in law. If convicted, you’ll be handed a life sentence which will have lifelong consequences. You’ll stay in prison until release which will be decided by the parole board, at which point you will be under licence for the rest of your life.

Conspiracy to murder cases are heard at a crown court. If the jury finds you guilty and you are convicted, in the most serious of cases, the maximum prison time you will receive is life imprisonment. More information on Conspiracy to Murder Sentencing.

What mitigating factors may be considered in sentencing?

When two or more people are planning or agreeing to take part in a crime, it’s considered by the courts to be a serious crime. For this, the court often hands our hefty penalties. The extent of the penalties will depend on your involvement, how serious the crime is and whether it was carried through or not.

Your mitigation will be crafted by your expert criminal solicitor. Mitigation for these serious offences requires an advanced level of planning and research and usually, we will for example:

  • consider sentences imposed in past similar cases, to find an argument for the most lenient sentence
  • consider the sentencing guidelines and find reason to persuade the judge to issue a sentence lower than the guidelines
  • find facts which distinguish your case from other cases of a similar nature, where lengthy sentences were imposed
  • collect evidence your previous criminal history (hopefully, the lack of) and show the judge that this was a one-off and isolated incident
  • find evidence of your standing in the community, your good character and nature, your good deeds, your responsibilities and information on the number of people who are likely to be affected by your absence
  • there are many others points of mitigation we will consider, as each case depends on its own individual characteristics, the court itself, the nature of the judge, the type of prosecutor, the involvement of the police officer, the interest of the media, the attention of the public and so on.

Does a conviction for Conspiracy to Murder go on your criminal record?

If you are convicted of conspiracy to murder, your conviction will be noted on your CRB / police record. The period of the endorsement will depend on the type and the length of the sentence.

More than likely, the endorsement will be for life, as the prison sentence is more than certainly in excess of 4 years.

How Can Stuart Miller Solicitors Help?

Our criminal solicitors have more than 35 years’ experience dealing with complex conspiracy to murder and manslaughter cases. We appreciate clients facing these offences need a dedicated team and the most experienced legal minds working on their case; a team you can trust and depend upon. We also appreciate the effect of such proceedings on family members and loved ones and the need for them to understand proceedings and to be kept up to date on your case as it progresses.

Our recent successful Murder cases

We have secured acquittals in allegations of murder, conspiracy to murder, joint enterprise murder and manslaughter allegations.

Owing to the size, expertise and reputation of the firm, our criminal solicitors have access to the best QCs, barristers and forensic analysts who will work together to secure the best possible outcome for you. Since most murder allegations feature telephone and covert surveillance evidence, we are closely linked to experts in cell-site evidence and can call upon their talent to enhance your defence. We will gather witness statements on your behalf and tirelessly search for and present evidence to win the case.

Book a free consultation to discuss Conspiracy to Murder allegations

Please contact us and ask to speak to our criminal solicitors to arrange a meeting, whether face to face, online or by telephone. If you prefer, you can WhatsApp us from the link you will find at the bottom banner if you open this page on your mobile phone device.

What will happen when I instruct a lawyer?

With more than 40 acquittals in murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and manslaughter cases, our criminal solicitors have considerable expertise in this field with documented success in a catalogue of cases which can be found at the murder-cases section of the website.

We are proud of the vigour, the dedication and proactive defence representation we invest in conspiracy to murder cases. We settle for nothing less than the best.

Would you like to discuss your case before instructing us?

If you’d like to have a no obligation chat with us before you instruct us to take your case, then call us today.

Please contact our criminal solicitors about your conspiracy to murder case to arrange your meeting, whether face to face, online or by telephone. If you prefer, you can also send us a WhatsApp message using the link on this page.

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