Having an accidental drug overdose turn into a homicide charge is a harrowing legal situation. Such proceedings are less common than more traditional homicide charges, and the legal nuances are often more complicated. Defendants in this situation must obtain a top notch attorney with wide-ranging experiences. Kirk M. Anderson is that attorney.
No Homicide Charges in Prince Overdose
Let us consider the unfortunate case of the overdose of Minneapolis’s own Prince. It took two years for officials to state that they will bring no charges in Prince’s death. According to The District Attorney’s office, Prince’s death resulted from Vicodin laced with fentanyl, though officials could not determine who Prince obtained the fentanyl from. It also could not prove any sort of intent to kill Prince. While, ultimately, no criminal charges were filed in the matter, that is not due to a lack of effort. An area physician was forced to pay out $30,000 for doling out an illegal prescription.
A Very Different Result in Chicago County
Without proper representation, the Prince tragedy aftermath may have unfolded differently. For example, in Dec. 2018, a nineteen-year-old Chicago County resident was convicted of third-degree murder in a similar case involving Oxycodone with fentanyl. Matters of criminal intent are complicated, and the vastly different results in the Prince and Chicago County cases are clear evidence of this.
Drug Overdoses Turned Homicides Require the Best Criminal Defense
One thing is clear: Law enforcement officials will investigate every angle in efforts to put a homicide charge on a drug overdose. Don’t let a mistake, or an entirely false accusation, result in an unnecessarily harsh penalty. If you are a target of this typed of investigation, or are officially charged with homicide, please get qualified legal representation ASAP.
Contact us at Anderson Law Firm PLLC. We have the compassion, understanding, and qualifications you need.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Please contact attorney Kirk Anderson for an initial consultation.