State Trials
PRACTICE AREAS
Wiseman, Schwartz, Cioschi & Trama provides representation at trial in defense against serious state criminal charges, including homicide and assault.
State Trials
PRACTICE AREAS
Wiseman & Schwartz provides representation at trial in defense against serious state criminal charges, including homicide and assault.
PRACTICE AREAS
State Trials
If you or a family member or friend has been charged with a criminal offense in any of Pennsylvania’s 64 counties, you can contact us for a free consultation. All our attorneys have years of experience defending individuals charged with all types of criminal offenses from the most minor up to and including murder and capital offenses.
We will thoroughly investigate your case, including contacting and interviewing all necessary witnesses, conducting any relevant forensic testing and analysis, and performing all relevant case law research.
We meet regularly with our clients, including clients who are in custody, to seek their input and to keep them apprised of case developments.
We appear at every court hearing, prepared to advance your case. Our goal is to obtain the very best result for you, in consultation with you, whether that means trying your case to a judge, a jury, or seeking a settlement.
PRACTICE AREAS
Preparing Your Defense
Wiseman, Schwartz, Ciosci & Trama provide representation at trial in defense against serious state criminal charges, including homicide and assault. To review critical definitions, statutes and definitions of the charges you may face, use the links below.
Homicide
In Pennsylvania, homicide is broken down into two categories: murder and manslaughter.
MURDER
Murder
is killing with "malice." "Malice" is a legal term that means a wickedness of disposition, hardness of heart, cruelty, recklessness of consequences, and a mind regardless of social duty, although a particular person may not be intended to be injured. Any strong defense at trial must convince the jury that the Commonwealth has either not proved that you were involved in the killing, or, if you were involved, has not proved that you acted with malice. There are three different classifications of murder in the state of Pennsylvania, which include:
FIRST DEGREE MURDER:
An intentional killing.
SECOND DEGREE MURDER: A killing that is committed while the defendant is committing another felony (such as robbery or burglary). For second degree murder, you can be charged with the killing even if you were just involved in the felony and did not actually commit the killing.
THIRD DEGREE MURDER:
A killing where the defendant does not intend to kill, is not involved in a felony at the time of the killing, but where he still demonstrates "malice."
MANSLAUGHTER
Manslaughter is an unlawful killing committed in the absence of malice. There are two different classifications of manslaughter in the state of Pennsylvania, which include:
VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER:
A killing without malice, where the defendant kills under a sudden and intense passion that results from serious provocation from the person who is killed (or kills someone else by mistake, while trying to kill the provoker).
Voluntary manslaughter is also a killing where the defendant genuinely believes that circumstances are such that, if they existed, would justify him acting in self-defense, but his belief is unreasonable.
INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER:
A killing without malice, where the defendant kills under a sudden and intense passion that results from serious provocation from the person who is killed (or kills someone else by mistake, while trying to kill the provoker).
Assault
There are several different types of assault charges in Pennsylvania, including:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
Aggravated assault is a serious criminal offense involving an attempt or threat to cause severe bodily harm to another person, or an assault committed with a deadly weapon, regardless of whether injury actually occurs. It is typically charged as a felony. In Pennsylvania, this can be charged as:
FIRST DEGREE FELONY AGGRAVATED ASSAULT:
Where the State has charged you with attempting to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causing such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under the circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life..
SECOND DEGREE FELONY AGGRAVATED ASSAULT:
Where the State has charged you with attempting to cause or intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a police officer in the performance of duty.
SIMPLE ASSAULT
Simple assault is a less serious criminal offense, typically charged as a misdemeanor. Unlike aggravated assault, simple assault generally involves minor injuries or no actual physical contact, no use of deadly weapons, and no aggravating circumstances. Common examples include pushing, slapping, or threatening gestures that cause fear of harm. In Pennsylvania, this is typically charge as:
MISDEMEANOR SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Where the State has charged you with attempting to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing serious bodily injury to another.
Let's Talk
Contact us to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense attorney in Philadelphia, PA.
