Homicide

Alabama law defines four distinct levels of homicide, each requiring the state to prove a different mental state beyond a reasonable doubt. The difference between these charges and the difference between decades in prison and a misdemeanor turns on what the defendant was thinking at the time of the incident.

Capital Murder - Death Penalty or Life Without Parole

Capital murder under § 13A-5-40 is murder committed under one of 18 specific aggravating circumstances defined by statute , including murder during a kidnapping, robbery, rape, or burglary; murder of a law enforcement officer; murder for hire; murder of a child under 14; and murder of two or more persons. The only possible sentences are death or life without the possibility of parole. Alabama carried out 5 executions in 2025 and sentences more people to death per capita than any other state, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. For more, see our capital defense page.

Murder - Class A Felony

Murder under § 13A-6-2 includes three forms: intentional killing, reckless conduct demonstrating extreme indifference to human life, and felony murder , where a death occurs during the commission of another felony such as robbery, burglary, or arson. Murder is a Class A felony carrying 10 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $60,000. Alabama's Habitual Felony Offender Act (§ 13A-5-9) can enhance this sentence to life without parole for defendants with prior felony convictions.

Manslaughter - Class B Felony

Manslaughter under § 13A-6-3 applies in two situations: a death caused by reckless conduct, or a killing that would otherwise qualify as murder but was committed in the heat of passion after legally recognized provocation. Manslaughter is a Class B felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000. The heat-of-passion defense does not result in acquittal it reduces the charge from murder to manslaughter by negating the intent element.

Criminally Negligent Homicide - Class A Misdemeanor or Class C Felony

Criminally negligent homicide under § 13A-6-4 applies when a death results from criminal negligence , a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would observe. It is normally a Class A misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail. However, when the death results from a DUI violation under § 32-5A-191, the charge is elevated to a Class C felony carrying 1 to 10 years in prison. For more on how DUI-related deaths are charged, see our vehicular homicide defense page.

Defendants convicted of murder or manslaughter are classified as violent offenders under § 12-25-32 and are excluded from community corrections programs. Parole eligibility is restricted, and sentences are subject to enhancement under the Habitual Felony Offender Act.

Our attorneys handle homicide cases with the preparation and resources these charges demand. We understand what is at stake — your freedom, your future, and in capital cases, your life.

We organize independent investigations from the ground up. We retain forensic experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and mental health professionals when the case requires it. We examine every piece of the state's evidence , forensic reports, witness statements, law enforcement conduct, interrogation procedures, and chain of custody documentation to identify weaknesses the prosecution does not want exposed.

We challenge the mental state the prosecution alleges. The difference between murder and manslaughter, or between manslaughter and negligent homicide, is the defendant's state of mind. We present evidence and argument that supports the most favorable interpretation of the facts. When self-defense applies, we present it aggressively Alabama's Stand Your Ground law (§ 13A-3-23) provides that a person with a right to be in a location has no duty to retreat before using reasonable force, including deadly force.

We prepare every case for trial. That posture changes how prosecutors evaluate the case, how plea negotiations unfold, and what outcomes remain on the table. Our attorneys have defended homicide cases at every stage from pre-arrest investigation through trial and appeal in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and across more than 60 of Alabama's 67 counties. For post-conviction relief, see our criminal appeals page.