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Beverly Hills DUI Murder

BEVERLY HILLS DUI MURDER / BEVERLY HILLS WATSON MURDER

The California Supreme Court has allowed prosecutors to file Beverly Hills DUI Murder charges under California Penal Code Section 187 PC in certain cases in which a DUI accident results in the death of another person. These cases are also called Beverly Hills Watson Murders in reference to the court case that originally authorized this enhanced charge. In contrast to Beverly Hills Vehicular Manslaughter pursuant to California Penal Code Section 191.5(b) PC and California Penal Code Section 191.5(a) PC, Beverly Hills DUI Murder is treated as a second degree murder charge that can carry 15 years to life imprisonment.

In order to prove Beverly Hills Watson Murder, the prosecutor must be able to establish that an intoxicated driver knew of the risk drunk driving carried, yet consciously ignored this risk and drove while intoxicated. This subsequently caused the death of another person. The intoxication can be as a result of the driver being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It does not matter if the drugs are prescriptions or illegal, the punishment is the same for both types of drugs.

Beverly Hills DUI Murder charges tend to be filed in the most extreme cases, such as where the defendant was previously convicted for DUI or where the defendant had taken an alcohol awareness class that covered the dangers of impaired driving.

With murder cases, the prosecution is usually required to establish that the death in question was intentionally caused by the defendant. However, with Beverly Hills Watson Murder allegations, the element of intentional conduct is implied, and the prosecutor is only required to show that the defendant understood the risks of impaired driving and then consciously ignored these risks and was involved in a fatal DUI accident.

Proving that a defendant had knowledge of the risk of impaired driving has been made easier by having every person convicted of DUI to sign an acknowledgement recognizing that drinking and driving is inherently risky to human life. The Courts commonly refer to this acknowledgement as the "Watson Advisement."

There are various legal defenses that may be raised to counter charges of DUI Murder and it is critical that you contact a Beverly Hills DUI Murder Attorney if you or a loved one has been charged with this offense. Beverly Hills DUI Murder Attorney Michael Kraut is a former Deputy District Attorney with over 14 years of prosecutorial experience who has handled charges of this nature as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney. Beverly Hills DUI Murder cases are highly technical and require an attorney with specialized knowledge and experience in handling such cases.

Upon being retained, Mr. Kraut can bring in his team of top investigators and experts to evaluate the case and perform any additional investigation or testing that may be deemed necessary. Mr. Kraut works with top professionals in their respective fields who perform accident reconstructions and analysis, conduct independent toxicology testing and locate witnesses or physical evidence that may have been overlooked by the police.

As a former Senior Trial Prosecutor with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Mr. Kraut is highly respected by law enforcement and prosecutors alike as a skilled and knowledgeable litigator who fights hard on behalf of his clients.

For more information about Beverly Hills DUI Murder, and to schedule your free consultation, contact Beverly Hills DUI Murder Attorney Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers located 8484 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 660B, Beverly Hills, CA 90211-3220. Mr. Kraut can be reached 24/7 at 888-334-6344 or 310-550-6935.


Client Reviews
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is outstanding! He genuinely cared about my case and instructed my mom and I throughout the entire process. He was very clear on what he needed in order to receive the best results. He kept us updated until the end. I thank him so much for getting my charges rejected. I highly recommend him to anyone with legal needs! Shaquan
★★★★★
I contacted Michael with concern for my personal and business reputation. He was very reassuring and confident the entire time. After about 3 weeks it was determined that no charges were being filed by any agency and I was in the clear of any investigation. One thing that is amazing is just how FAST Michael is at replying to phone calls, texts, and even emails! We are talking under 30 minutes in most cases. That is unheard of for most attorneys! Michael is incredible and not your typical run of the mill attorney. For best results hire him if you feel like you might be under investigation or could face charges. Even if you know you are innocent it is best to take care of the smoke before it becomes a fire. Brad
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is-hands down-the best criminal defense attorney and I can't begin to thank him for all that he did for me and my family. I reached out to him in the middle of the night and less than a couple hours later, he had gotten back to me and scheduled a meeting. He's a no-nonsense attorney who knows how to get the job done! From the second we retained him, I had peace of mind in knowing that we were in the best hands possible. If Michael Kraut couldn't get it done, I knew that it couldn't be done at all. You can't put a price tag on your freedom. He was worth every single penny. Lida
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is an outstanding attorney. He was extremely professional, and straightforward, yet sensitive with my case. I am confident I made the right choice by hiring Michael. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a truly experienced lawyer. Daniel
★★★★★
Michael Kraut - I cannot thank you enough for all that you did for ​my son. When I came to you I read that you used to be a district attorney but I never knew how much that meant until I watch you in court. I knew it took 3 months but the final day when I heard the judge say that all charges were dismissed it was all worth it! I will always be grateful for all that you did for us. A.N.
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