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Glendale DUI Murder

GLENDALE DUI MURDER / GLENDALE WATSON MURDER
PENAL CODE SECTION 187

In certain DUI incidents that result in fatalities, the California Supreme Court permits prosecutors to pursue charges of Glendale DUI Murder under California Penal Code Section 187 PC. These cases are also called Glendale Watson Murders after the court case that first authorized these enhanced charges. Unlike Glendale Vehicular Manslaughter charges pursuant to California Penal Code Section 191.5(b) PC and California Penal Code Section 191.5(a) PC, Glendale DUI murder is classified as 2nd degree murder and can carry a minimum penalty of 15 years to life imprisonment.

To establish the elements of Glendale Watson Murder, a prosecutor must prove that an impaired driver acted in a manner obviously risky to human life, and that this person knew of the risk and consciously ignored it.

Prosecutors tend to only pursue charges of Glendale DUI Murder in the most extreme cases, such as where someone has been convicted of DUI before or previously took an alcohol awareness class and still caused a DUI accident that resulted in the death of another.

To establish Glendale DUI Murder, a prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the impaired driver knew that driving under the influence is inherently risky but disregarded this risk and drove intoxicated.

These cases can be treated as murder because malicious intent is implied on behalf of the defendant driver. In typical murder cases, the prosecution is required to prove that a defendant intentional killed another person. However, with second degree Glendale DUI murder charges, the prosecutor need only show that the defendant clearly understood the risks of impaired driving yet still chose to engage in such conduct, and this conduct resulted in a death. This is called implied intent murder.

Proving this knowledge has been made easier by requiring all people convicted of a DUI-related offense to explicitly acknowledge that driving under the influence is an activity inherently dangerous to human life. This acknowledgment is known as the “Watson advisement.”

Several defenses can be raised in response to allegations of Glendale Watson Murder. If you or someone you know is being investigated for a fatal DUI accident in Glendale, it is crucial that you contact a Glendale DUI Murder attorney as soon as possible. Glendale DUI Murder Attorney Michael Kraut has handled charges of this nature as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, and thus brings a unique perspective to these cases. This is an area of the law that can be highly technical and requires a significant amount of experience.

When Mr. Kraut has been retained, he can bring in his team of investigators and experts to investigate the case and work to actively fight the criminal charges. Mr. Kraut works with top professionals who perform accident reconstructions, conduct independent toxicology testing and seek out witnesses who may have been missed by law enforcement.

Mr. Kraut is a former Deputy District Attorney and senior trial prosecutor who has over 14 years of prosecutorial experience. Mr. Kraut is highly respected throughout the court system and has established key relationships within the law enforcement community.

For more information about Glendale DUI Murder/DUI Watson Murder, and to schedule your free consultation, contact Glendale DUI Murder Attorney Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers located 121 W Lexington Dr, Glendale, CA 91203. Mr. Kraut can be reached 24/7 at 888-334-6344 or 818-507-9123.


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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