Homicide Defense in Utah
When the State accuses you of taking a life, every detail—phone records, witness statements, forensic samples—becomes a battlefield. From negligent homicide to capital-eligible aggravated murder, Utah prosecutors move quickly and marshal immense resources. Morrise Thompson Foresta Legal responds even faster, assembling a defense team that matches (and often outclasses) the State’s firepower.
Why Families Turn to Us in the Worst Moments
24/7 Emergency Response – Our attorneys and investigators deploy the moment we’re retained, securing evidence and arranging immediate bail hearings.
Forensic Firepower – Independent pathologists, DNA scientists, ballistics experts, and digital-forensics analysts audit every lab result and crime-scene conclusion.
Self-Defense & Justification Mastery – Utah’s Stand-Your-Ground and castle-doctrine laws can end a case before trial. We know how to prove lawful force.
Media Containment – We seek gag orders, craft strategic statements, and shield your name from prejudicial headlines that can poison a jury pool.
Flat-Fee Clarity – You should focus on your future, not spiraling hourly bills. Our written fee agreements are clear, comprehensive, and predictable.
Our Step-by-Step Defense Blueprint
Immediate Case Audit
Secure police reports, 911 audio, body-cam video, and the medical examiner’s findings within hours.
Independent Scene Reconstruction
Former homicide detectives revisit the location, chart trajectories, and photograph overlooked evidence.
Forensic Counter-Analysis
We retest DNA, fingerprints, GSR, and toxicology, and expose contamination, backlogs, and chain-of-custody gaps.
Pre-Trial Motions
Suppress coerced statements, unconstitutional searches, and unreliable eyewitness identifications, often crippling the prosecution’s case.
Negotiation or Trial
If dismissal or reduction isn’t possible, we present a compelling narrative of innocence, accident, or self-defense to the jury, backed by clear expert testimony.
Homicide - FAQs
Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Do I really need an attorney?
When you are charged with a crime, the government has extensive resources all directed at reaching the outcome it wants, and usually that means obtaining as many convictions, the highest fines, and the longest incarcerations as it can reasonably get. Knowledge of law, the legal rules, and a quality investigation are the resources you need to stand up against the government. That is what good lawyers can do for you.
What happens next?
You’ve been charged with a crime, now what? Depending upon the level of the offense there are different processes for taking a case forward. In most cases you will have an initial appearance, where the judge will inform you of the charges and potential penalties. At that hearing the judge may ask you to enter a plea, either guilty or not guilty. At that same hearing the judge might ask what you plan to do about an attorney. That is when you should tell the judge that you are hiring Morrise Thompson. After we have been retained, we will file an appearance of counsel, informing the judge and the prosecutor that you are now represented by our office. Then we will file a demand for discovery, forcing the prosecutor to provide all the evidence they have collected to that point, the police reports, any written statements by witnesses, any recordings, etc. We will review that evidence with you and begin considering what defenses might apply to your case, what motions could be filed, and what other investigations need to be performed.
What’s the difference between murder and manslaughter in Utah?
Murder (§ 76-5-203) requires proof that you intentionally, knowingly, or with “depraved indifference” caused a death. Manslaughter (§ 76-5-205) involves recklessness or heat-of-passion provocation. Establishing your state of mind—and challenging the State’s evidence—is often the key to reducing or defeating the charge.
Call A Homicide Attorney Now
Don’t wait. The sooner you involve an experienced defense attorney, the better your chances for success. Contact Morrise Thompson Foresta Legal today to protect your future.