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14 Nov 2022

If you are ever accused of murder, it is important to remember that the burden of proof falls on the prosecution. This means that they must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty of the crime. There are a number of steps you can take to ensure that your rights are protected and to increase your chances of being found not guilty.

First, it is important to get a good criminal defence representative. They will be able to help guide you through the process and make sure that your rights are not violated. Additionally, you should always remain silent until you have had a chance to speak with your lawyer. Finally, make sure to prepare for trial by gathering evidence in your favour and preparing witnesses who can testify on your behalf.

When you come to ABV Solicitors for legal criminal defence, we will always be happy to discuss the legal process with you, and ensure that your side of the story is told. Our criminal solicitor will work tirelessly to ensure that you have the best defence possible and to have any sentence reduced.

So, following on, what should you do when you are accused of murder? Our criminal solicitor offers the following insight.

Seek legal representation

When someone is accused of murder in the UK, there are a few steps that they need to take to protect their rights and ensure that they have the best possible chance of a fair trial. Firstly, you should seek legal representation as soon as possible. This can be done through a solicitor, like our criminal solicitor at ABV, or, if you are unable to afford one, through legal aid.

You should aim to do this as soon as you are arrested or when you find out you are going to be arrested for murder, as this will give you the best chance of getting the right defence for yourself.

Gather evidence

You will then need to provide the police with all of the evidence that you have which could be used in your defence. This might include witness statements, CCTV footage or records of phone calls.

Our team can help with this too. When you employ us to represent you, we will gather all of this for you and will work with the prosecution and their witnesses too, to look for inconsistencies in their stories.
If you have any evidence on your person, such as phone messages or emails, then please give these to us at the earliest opportunity.

Police interviews

You will also need to attend police interviews, but don’t say anything to incriminate yourself.

The police interview can be an important tool in solving murder cases. By interviewing the suspect and obtaining a confession, investigators can often build a strong case against the defendant. So, always ensure that a member of our team or another legal professional is on hand to defend you.

Attend court hearings

If you are released on bail, you are legally responsible for ensuring that you attend court hearings. Not doing so can result in you being arrested.