Murder Defense Attorney Orlando FL
Darryl R. Smith, Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation attorney, was born in Staten Island, New York and raised in Piscataway, New Jersey. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. Darryl went on to attend Vanderbilt University Law School. During his law school career, Darryl Smith was recognized by Vanderbilt University Law School as a Chancellor’s Scholar, and also was named Senior Editor for the Southern Regional BLSA Law Review Journal. He graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School with his Juris Doctorate in 2011, and moved to Orlando to pursue his dream of practicing law in Central Florida. Darryl Smith began his legal career with the Office of the Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando, Florida, exclusively practicing criminal law. During his tenure with the office, he handled over 600 adult and juvenile misdemeanor cases from arraignment to case closure, including battery, possession of marijuana, petit theft, domestic violence, unlawful display of a firearm, driving with license suspended (DWLS), driving under the influence (DUI), and countless other misdemeanor offenses. In the short span of one year, Mr. Smith took 14 cases to trial. In 2012, Darryl Smith was offered the prestigious opportunity to become a Civil Litigation Attorney with the Orlando Office of one of the largest civil defense law firms in the State of Florida, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer. During his time with Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, he played a vital role in litigating several high-profile personal injury cases on behalf of several Fortune 500 companies, including Walmart, Lowe’s, and Home Depot.
Driven by an undying passion to make a real difference in the community by defending the rights of those in need, Darryl Smith voluntarily left the world of corporate law and returned to practicing criminal law with the Office of the Public Defender. During his second tenure with the office, he defended over 400 adult felony cases from arraignment to case closure, including robbery, burglary, drug trafficking, dealing in stolen property, aggravated assault with a weapon, aggravated battery, punishable by life (PBL) offenses, and numerous other serious felony charges. Mr. Darryl Smith has developed a reputation in the Central Florida legal community as a down-to-earth, compassionate, aggressive, and most of all highly effective advocate for his clients. He has also been nominated by Orlando Style Magazine as one of Orlando‘s Legal Elite. Mr. Smith has litigated over 1,000 criminal and civil cases, and has taken over 25 criminal cases to trial, ranging from Simple Battery to First-Degree Murder. He is dedicated to utilizing his legal knowledge, trial experience, and tireless work ethic to pursue justice for each and every one of his clients. Darryl Smith works as a Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation attorney for the Smith & Eulo Law Firm.
There are different types of murder and depending on what led to it can determine the penalties. When you heard a murder of x degree, it defined by what led to the murder. Was it intentional? Did the individual come up with a plan to kill the person/people? Or was it all an accident? Not all murders are intentional. There are times that accidents happen and sadly, have a tragic outcome. If you or a loved one are being charged with murder, you need to contact us to speak with one of our murder defense lawyers in Orlando, FL. We offer initial free consolations and payment plans. Call us today. Types of murder charges First degree– Also known as capital murder. This means that the murder was premeditated and is the most serious offense. For an offense to be premeditated then that means the murderer had to plan the act beforehand. This could be done through stalking, researching, or setting up a plan for an attack. Second degree- This is a murder done but there was no premeditation. This means that the murderer didn’t wake up in the morning and decided they wanted to kill somebody. The murder had to be an in the moment offense. For example, a road rage altercation ending with one of the drivers pulling a gun on the other. The driver didn’t plan for the altercation and didn’t plan for it to end in a death. It was a heat of the moment event that had a tragic end. Third degree- Also known as manslaughter. The difference between manslaughter and a second-degree murder is that there was never at any point an intention to kill. The death was caused by some type of accident or altercation. Majority of manslaughter cases involve motor vehicle accidents. A drive may have been drunk and ran a red light causing them to crash into another car. The impact caused the driver to die on impact due to the force. The drunk driver didn’t intend on someone getting killed but someone died due to their negligence.
First Degree Murder First degree murder is the most extreme degree out of all the murder charges. If a person dies during the commission of a specific felony act, then the person committing the felony act will be charged with first degree murder. Here are the specific felony acts that qualify for felony murder in Florida. Trafficking offense Arson Sexual battery Robbery Burglary Kidnapping Escape Aggravated child abuse Aggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult Aircraft piracy Unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive device or bomb Carjacking Home-invasion robbery Aggravated stalking Murder of another human being Resisting an officer with violence to his or her person Aggravated fleeing or eluding with serious bodily injury or death Felony that is an act of terrorism or is in furtherance of an act of terrorism Penalties Murder is a felony offense and can lead to a few years to possible life in prison. The least severe of all the degrees is a third-degree murder, also known as manslaughter. The maximum penalties for a third-degree murder are up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation, and a $10,000 fine. For a second-degree murder, the maximum prison sentence is 15 years. A first-degree murder is the most serious offense. Being convicted for a first-degree murder can lead to a life prison sentence. First degree murder is also considered a capitol felony. In many states, including Florida, first degree murder can lead to the death penalty. The state has the choice of either sentencing the defendant to death or sending them to life in prison. If the death penalty is chosen, then another hearing will take place to determine whether or not to allow the death penalty. In Florida, the death penalty is inflicted by either lethal injection or electrocution. Criminal Defense in Other Locations If you are in need of a qualified murder defense attorney in the Orlando area or the State of Florida, chances are, Smith and Eulo Law Firm has an attorney that can represent you. In addition to our two Orlando, FL locations we also have locations in: Kissimmee, Sanford, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Lakeland, Tampa, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Miami, Jacksonville. We have you covered with exceptional legal representation wherever you reside. Fill out the contact form, or call us now.
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