A New York man named David Steeves pleaded guilty last month to second degree murder after he admitted to lacing his estranged wife's coffee with cyanide. The crime is disturbing to many New York residents, but criminal defense attorneys in this case were able to ensure that the defendant's rights were protected and that his side of the story was voiced in the trial.
Associated Press reports that the defendant David Steeves was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison yesterday. The man agreed to plead guilty to the second degree murder charge only after he was assured that his two sons would not be present for his sentencing. His two sons are ages 17 and 15 and wrote in letters to the judge that their father deserved no mercy. Many New York criminal defense attorneys might say that the man was lucky to avoid a first degree murder charge and conviction.
During the trial, New York criminal defense attorney Craig McElwee argued that his client had bought the cyanide to kill himself but "chickened out" and gave it to his wife instead. While this story may seem a bit far fetched to some New York residents, an attorney was able to convince prosecutors not to pursue a first degree murder charge.
According to LawBrain, first degree murder is considered the most severe type of killing under the law, where the unlawful killing requires must have been willful, premeditated, and had malice aforethought. Because of the severity of any type of murder crime, it's important to have a New York criminal defense attorney analyze all the evidence in such a case and make sure that the defendant's legal rights are being protected.
Related Resources:
- Murder: First Degree (FindLaw)
- See a New York Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- Murder: Second Degree (FindLaw)
