Damico & Stockstill, Attorneys at Law

80 Years Of Combined Trial Experience

Two Charged in West Baton Rouge Undercover Drug Deal Death

On Behalf of | Jan 26, 2011 | Firm News, Murder & Other Homicide Crimes |

Most people consider the person who actually pulls the trigger to be responsible for a murder. However, in some situations, prosecutors may pursue charges against criminal suspects who never even touched the weapon.

Last week, an undercover police officer was posing as a drug dealer at the Motel 6 on Highway 415 in Port Allen. A woman came to his room to purchase drugs. After she entered the motel room, an armed man came in behind her in an apparent robbery. The undercover officer shot and killed the man.

According to WAFB, even though the undercover police officer was the one who fired the shot, the prosecution pursued charges against the woman who was buying the drugs and her boyfriend, who was waiting in the car at the time, for second degree murder. If convicted, they could spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Legally, however, they cannot be convicted of murder based upon existing case law. The prosecutor in this case has charged the wrong crime.

Anyone charged with murder knows the stakes are high. Therefore, it is critical to find an experienced criminal defense lawyer who will aggressively protect the rights of the accused. Strong, solid and insightful defense is critical for anyone charged with a serious crime.

A good defense attorney will examine a case from all aspects, performing a detailed investigation into the matter. By evaluating the prosecution’s evidence and building a strong defense based on the facts, the lawyer will strive to reach the best possible outcome for each client.

Source: WAFB, “Couple indicted for West Baton Rouge motel shooting,” 21 Jan. 2011

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