Murder Defense Attorney in Los Angeles - PC 187 Charges
A murder charge under California Penal Code 187 PC is the most serious criminal charge a person can face. A conviction can mean 25 years to life in state prison — or life without the possibility of parole.
The moment you learn that you or a loved one is under investigation or has been arrested for murder in Los Angeles County, every decision matters. The moves made in the first hours and days of a murder case can determine everything that follows.
Ronald Hedding is a criminal defense attorney based in Los Angeles who has defended more murder and homicide cases than most criminal defense attorneys in Los Angeles County, across more than 35 years of practice.
He began his career as a law clerk with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and later served as a judicial research attorney for a Superior Court Judge — experience that gives him an inside understanding of exactly how the prosecution builds a murder case, and how to take it apart.
He has handled murder cases in virtually every courthouse across LA County — Downtown Los Angeles at 210 West Temple, Van Nuys, San Fernando, Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, Compton, Long Beach, and Antelope Valley.
When a murder charge is filed anywhere in Los Angeles or the surrounding counties, he knows the prosecutors, the courtrooms, and the judges handling it.
The Hedding Law Firm can help you. Schedule your consultation by calling (833) 594-2133 or using the contact form.
Where Is a Murder Case Filed in Los Angeles County?
One of the first things that shapes a murder defense in Los Angeles is understanding where the case will be prosecuted.
Unlike most crimes, which are filed in the courthouse nearest to where the offense occurred, murder cases in LA County are handled differently. Most murders are filed in the courthouse that covers the area where the crime took place:
- A killing in the San Fernando Valley will typically be filed in Van Nuys Court.
- Cases from the north end of the Valley — cities like Chatsworth, Granada Hills, or areas near Santa Clarita — often go to the San Fernando Courthouse.
- Crimes on the Westside generally land in the LAX courthouse. Cases from the Antelope Valley go to Lancaster.
However, there is a critical exception for murder: the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office maintains its central hub at 210 West Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles (Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center), and that office has the authority to transfer any murder case from anywhere in the county and prosecute it downtown.
This happens regularly when a case is high-profile, involves a sophisticated fact pattern, a celebrity or public figure, organized crime, or gang allegations at the highest level.
Downtown Los Angeles is where the most experienced homicide prosecutors in the county are stationed. If your case ends up there, you need an attorney who has handled serious cases in that building — not just someone who has driven past it.
What Happens When a Murder Case Is Filed?
When the DA's office files a murder charge, the case is not assigned to a general criminal prosecutor.
A senior prosecutor — one who handles only homicide cases — is assigned from the moment the case comes in. That prosecutor's entire job is to secure a conviction.
They have unlimited investigative resources, the full cooperation of law enforcement, and often years of experience doing exactly this.
The case can be resolved in one of two ways: through a negotiated plea agreement or through a jury trial. Most families want to know immediately whether a deal is possible.
The honest answer is that it depends entirely on the facts — the strength of the evidence, the defendant's criminal history, the specific charge (first degree, second degree, special circumstances), and the defense's approach from day one.
The First 24 to 48 Hours: What a Defense Attorney Should Do Immediately
In over 35 years of defending murder cases in Los Angeles, one pattern is consistent: the cases that are hardest to defend are the ones where nothing was done in the early stages. Here is what should happen the moment you contact a defense attorney.
Most of the time, it is not the person charged with murder who calls — it is their family. The person who is arrested is in custody, often at a county jail, and has limited ability to reach out.
When a family member calls the Hedding Law Firm about a murder charge, the first step is an in-person meeting — in the office, in private, under the protection of the attorney-client privilege.
That meeting covers everything: what happened, who was involved, what the family knows, who the detectives are, what evidence exists, and where the case is currently being held. From there, the attorney takes control. This means:
- identifying the detectives assigned to the case,
- contacting them directly when appropriate,
- determining the current status of the filing,
- preserving any evidence that could help the defense,
- reaching out to witnesses before they disappear or change their accounts, and
- entering the jail to meet with the client directly.
The goal in those first 48 hours is simple: stop mistakes from being made, and start building a defense.
Pre-Filing Intervention in a Murder Case: Can Charges Be Prevented?
In some murder cases, a person knows they are under investigation before an arrest is made. The police are asking questions.
Detectives have contacted family members. A target letter has been received, or someone has heard their name is coming up in an investigation.
In these situations, pre-filing intervention — getting an attorney involved before charges are formally filed — can be one of the most powerful moves available.
The single most important thing that happens during pre-filing intervention is that the attorney tells law enforcement that the client is represented and will not make any statements.
This is critical. It is remarkable how many people — even people who are innocent — try to talk their way out of a murder investigation.
They speak to detectives without a lawyer, they try to explain, and in doing so, they say something that gets misquoted, taken out of context, or twisted into evidence against them.
Or they fail to answer something an innocent person would clearly answer, and that omission becomes suspicious. Either way, without an attorney present, statements made to law enforcement in a murder investigation almost always hurt.
An experienced attorney who knows the DA's office and the investigative process can also contact prosecutors at this early stage to understand what evidence they believe they have, present the client's side of the circumstances, and, in some cases, influence whether and how murder charges are filed.
This is not guaranteed — but it is only possible when a skilled attorney is involved early enough to make it happen.
Understanding the Charges: PC 187, Degrees of Murder, and Manslaughter
First-Degree Murder
First-degree murder under California Penal Code 187 covers all premeditated killings — cases where the prosecutor can show the defendant planned the killing in advance, however briefly.
It also covers felony murder, which applies when a death occurs during the commission of a serious underlying felony such as robbery, carjacking, burglary, arson, or kidnapping.
A first-degree murder conviction carries a sentence of 25 years to life in California state prison.
Second-Degree Murder
Second-degree murder is an intentional killing without premeditation — an unplanned but still unlawful killing done with malice aforethought.
This charge also applies to situations involving implied malice, such as when a person acts with conscious disregard for human life. A second-degree murder conviction carries 15 years to life.
Special Circumstances Murder — Life Without Parole or Death Penalty
When the prosecution adds special circumstance allegations under Penal Code 190.2 — such as multiple murders, murder for financial gain, murder of a peace officer, or killings involving torture or lying in wait — the potential sentence becomes life in prison without the possibility of parole, or in rare cases, the death penalty.
These are the most serious charges in the California Penal Code, and they demand the most experienced defense available.
Voluntary Manslaughter — PC 192(a)
Sometimes the most important victory in a murder case is not a full acquittal — it is a reduction from murder to voluntary manslaughter.
Manslaughter under PC 192(a) applies when a killing occurs in the heat of passion, following adequate provocation, without the premeditation required for murder. In the right case, this is a life-changing distinction, and it is what a skilled defense attorney fights for when the facts support it.
The Felony Murder Rule and How It Changed Under SB 1437
For years, California's felony murder rule was one of the broadest in the country.
A person could be convicted of murder simply because they were present during a crime that resulted in a death, even if they had no intent to kill and did not pull the trigger.
The driver of a getaway car. Someone standing outside a building where a robbery went wrong. These individuals faced the same murder charges as the person who actually committed the killing.
Senate Bill 1437, which took effect in 2019, fundamentally changed this. Under the new law, a person can only be charged with felony murder::
- If they were the actual killer,
- If they aided and abetted with the specific intent to kill, or
- If they were a major participant in the underlying felony who acted with reckless indifference to human life.
Senate Bill 775, effective January 1, 2022, extended these protections to individuals who had previously pled to manslaughter or attempted murder under the old felony murder or natural and probable consequences theories — those individuals can now petition for resentencing or vacatur of their convictions.
If you or a family member was convicted of murder or manslaughter under the old felony murder rule, this change in the law may be the basis for a petition to have that sentence reduced or vacated.
This is an active area of criminal defense in Los Angeles courthouses right now.
Jury Trials in Murder Cases: What Los Angeles Juries Actually Look For
Defending a murder case at trial in Los Angeles requires understanding not just the law, but the jury. Jurors in murder cases take their responsibility seriously.
From hundreds of trials across LA County, a few things are consistently true: juries look carefully at the evidence, apply common sense, and will not convict someone of murder unless the prosecution has made its case. But you can count on the prosecution bringing everything it has.
Jury composition matters enormously and varies significantly by courthouse. San Fernando Courthouse draws its jury pool heavily from Valencia and Santa Clarita — communities that tend to produce more conservative jurors.
This affects trial strategy across the board: how witnesses are cross-examined, how the defense narrative is framed, and how the closing argument is structured.
A defense attorney who does not understand this dynamic — or who treats every jury the same — is at a disadvantage before the trial starts.
In a county as large as Los Angeles, there are very few criminal defense attorneys who have the trial experience, the courtroom presence, and the case volume in murder specifically to be genuinely effective at this level.
Many attorneys handle a murder case or two in their career. Some openly will not take cases past the preliminary hearing, which is not a defense strategy; it is a confession of limitation.
A preliminary hearing is when an experienced defense attorney begins to lock in witness testimony under oath, build cross-examination leverage for trial, and establish the strategy that will carry through to the jury.
Refusing to see a case through to trial is not serving a client facing a murder charge.
The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Facing a Murder Charge in LA
After handling murder cases for over three decades in Los Angeles, the mistakes that damage a person's case most severely are consistent and avoidable. Here are the most common ones:
- Doing nothing. Waiting, hoping the situation resolves itself, or assuming that silence alone will protect you is the single costliest mistake. While the client sits and waits, the prosecution is building its case — talking to witnesses, collecting evidence, locking in the narrative. Every day without an attorney is a day the other side gets stronger.
- Talking to police without an attorney. Detectives assigned to murder cases in LA County are experienced, well-trained interrogators. They approach a suspect with the evidence they already have. They build rapport. They get people to fill in gaps. Even an innocent person who talks to police without an attorney can say something that gets misrepresented, taken out of context, or used in a way they never intended. Once a statement is made, it cannot be unmade. Do not give one without a lawyer.
- Waiting until after the preliminary hearing to get serious. The preliminary hearing is one of the most strategically important moments in a murder case. Witnesses testify under oath. Evidence is presented. An experienced defense attorney uses that hearing to lock in witness accounts, identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case, and lay groundwork for trial. Missing that window is irreversible.
- Hiring the wrong attorney. Not every criminal defense attorney is equipped to handle a murder case. In a county as large as Los Angeles, only a small number of defense attorneys have genuinely tried murder cases to verdict — repeatedly, across different courthouses, against senior prosecution teams. Ask directly: how many murder cases have you taken to trial? How many have you handled at the Van Nuys, San Fernando, or downtown LA courthouse? The answer matters.
Frequently Asked Questions: Murder Charges in Los Angeles
What is the difference between murder, homicide, and manslaughter in California?
Homicide is the broad legal term for the killing of one person by another. It can be lawful (such as a justified killing in self-defense) or unlawful.
Murder is a specific type of unlawful homicide that requires malice aforethought — either an intent to kill or a conscious disregard for human life.
Manslaughter is an unlawful killing without malice, either in the heat of passion (voluntary manslaughter) or through criminal negligence (involuntary manslaughter). The distinction between these charges determines everything about sentencing and defense strategy.
What if I didn't pull the trigger — can I still be charged with murder?
Under the updated felony murder rule (SB 1437), California has narrowed the circumstances under which a person who did not commit the actual killing can be charged with murder.
However, it is still possible if the prosecution can show you were a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with reckless indifference to human life.
This is a highly fact-specific analysis, and the strength of this charge depends entirely on the specific circumstances of the case.
Can a murder charge be reduced to manslaughter?
Yes, in certain cases. A reduction from murder to voluntary manslaughter is possible when the evidence supports a heat of passion defense — meaning the killing occurred as the result of sudden provocation that would cause a reasonable person to act without deliberation.
Whether this reduction is achievable depends on the specific facts, the evidence, and the defense attorney's skill in presenting those facts to a prosecutor or jury. It is one of the most important outcomes a defense attorney can fight for in the right case.
Should I talk to the police if I'm suspected of murder in Los Angeles?
No. You have the right to remain silent, and you should exercise it immediately. Politely tell law enforcement that you are invoking your right to counsel and will not answer questions until your attorney is present.
Do not explain, justify, or elaborate. Even innocent people damage their cases by speaking to detectives in a murder investigation without an attorney. Call a lawyer before you say anything.
What are the penalties for murder in California?
First-degree murder: 25 years to life in state prison. Second-degree murder: 15 years to life. If the prosecution adds special circumstance allegations under PC 190.2 (such as multiple victims, murder for financial gain, or murder of a police officer), the sentence becomes life in prison without the possibility of parole, or in some cases, the death penalty.
Additional enhancements — firearm use, gang allegations, prior serious felonies — can significantly increase these sentences.
What is the best defense against a murder charge in Los Angeles?
There is no single best defense — the right strategy depends entirely on the facts of the case. Common defenses include:
- self-defense (arguing the killing was legally justified),
- lack of intent (arguing there was no malice aforethought to support the murder charge),
- mistaken identity (challenging the evidence connecting the defendant to the crime), and
- challenging the admissibility of evidence through motions to suppress.
A comprehensive defense also involves a thorough independent investigation, witness interviews, and forensic analysis. The defense is built case by case, not from a template.
How long does a murder case take in Los Angeles?
Murder cases in Los Angeles County are among the most time-intensive in the criminal court system.
From arrest to final resolution — whether by trial or plea — a murder case can take anywhere from one to several years depending on the complexity of the facts, the volume of evidence, the number of witnesses, and the court's calendar.
During that time, a defendant charged with murder will typically be held in custody without bail, or in rare circumstances, on very high bail.
Contact a Los Angeles Murder Defense Attorney Today
If you or a family member is facing a murder or homicide charge anywhere in Los Angeles County — or you believe you are under investigation — contact the Hedding Law Firm immediately.
The earlier a defense attorney is involved in a murder case, the more options exist to protect your rights, your future, and your freedom.
Call us today for a confidential consultation.
Hedding Law Firm serves clients throughout Los Angeles County, including the San Fernando Valley, Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, Long Beach, Lancaster, and all surrounding areas.
