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States have multiple murder laws. Typically, the type of murder charge depends on the circumstances and evidence available in a case. Felony murder is a special type of charge. It is much different from other murder charges. The Springfield News-Leader explains felony...
The state of Missouri defines domestic assault as an assault against a current or former spouse or partner, a family member, a co-parent, or a current or former cohabitant. A common belief is that when the police respond to a domestic violence situation, the law...
First-degree murder is a class A felony in Missouri, for which the penalty upon conviction can be either death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or probation. The only exception to the death penalty is if the defendant was under 18 years old at...
Handing down a death sentence in a criminal case is something the court does not take lightly. It is the most severe punishment the state can give a person, and since it involves taking a life, there are specific rules pertaining to what a jury must consider before...
You may have heard of terms such as “aiding and abetting,” or “being an accessory to a crime.” Sometimes legal jargon can be quite confusing, and terms like these may be used interchangeably by those who don’t know better. But if you are facing the prospect of...
Concerned individuals may file reports with law enforcement officials alleging animal cruelty. Intentionally failing to provide a pet with adequate care, for example, may result in a class A misdemeanor charge under Missouri's Animal Neglect and Abuse Statutes. An...
A man who was released from prison after the Missouri Supreme Court overturned his murder conviction will not stand trial again. The Dent County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced on Oct. 10 that a motion had been filed to drop the homicide charge against the...
A 43-year-old man accused of shooting two Missouri police officers on the afternoon of Aug. 29 has been charged with three counts of armed criminal action and one count each of murder in the first degree, assault, burglary, the unlawful use of a firearm and resisting...
Police in Stoddard County arrested a 16-year-old Missouri male in connection with an early-morning murder that occurred on Jan. 28, 2020. The juvenile is facing murder, robbery and burglary charges. Just before 4:30 a.m. on the morning of the murder, police arrived at...
Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed a controversial crime reform bill into law on July 6. Senate Bill 600, which was passed on the last day of the legislative session and will go into effect on August 28, toughens sentences, creates new crimes and modifies several...
