Explaining Homicide Crimes in Oklahoma begins with applying the proper criminal statute. Some people may have heard of the 1934 Society Gang Killing in Tulsa. A prominent surgeon’s son was found shot twice in the back of the head slumped over his steering wheel. The murder was the son of a federal judge. As rumor has it, the murder was the result of an extortion plot gone wrong, with oil baron H.F. Wilcox as the intended target. The homicide made for a sensational story at the time and still intrigues people today. This article involves explaining homicide crimes in Oklahoma and how the different degrees are classified.
Explaining Homicide Crimes in Oklahoma
Oklahoma statutes define the crime in one simple sentence: Homicide is the killing of one human being by another.—21 O.S. 691(A). However, this
is only the beginning of understanding the full extent of the crime. The law sub-divides homicide into a series of about five types of murder. First, as you may expect, is first-degree murder. This generally means that a person pre-plans and fully intends to commit a murder. Second, is second-degree. This is not as planned as first-degree, but still results in the death of another while committing a crime. Third, is manslaughter. Manslaughter is an unintentional or reckless killing of someone.
The other two subsections can be a defense. One is the justifiable homicide. This is when a person kills in defense of another or in their own self-defense. A common example of justifiable is when soldiers kill in combat. Excusable homicide, while similar to justifiable, is more when there is some fault on the part of the killer and the victim. Say a person starts a fight, withdraws, but must kill the adversary in order to remain alive.
SEE OUR ARTICLE ON SHOOTING WITH INTENT TO KILL .
Punishments for Homicide Crimes
Explaining Homicide Crimes involves understanding the breakdown of the subcategories and their respective punishments.
- First Degree: potential death penalty or life without parole
- Second Degree: Imprisonment between 10 years and life, but with the possibility of parole
- Manslaughter: felony charges also with jail time between 2 to 4 years and fines reaching $1,000, plus potential civil court restitution to victims
- Justifiable and Excusable: No penalties.
Claremore Attorneys Can Help
As you can see, the crime of homicide is complex with devastating consequences. We highly recommend you seek counsel if you are facing these charges. Our attorneys have experience defending clients against these types of allegations. Call our offices for a free consultation.
