November 14, 2013

According to a report by hometownstation.com, a 31-year-old man accused of fatally shooting his own father will have his preliminary hearing January 2014.

Investigators say the shooting occurred on the night of May 16 at the father's residence in Canyon Country. The son allegedly came to the house drunk and began arguing with his parents. About a quarter hour before midnight, he is believed to have produced a gun and shot his father in the head.

Detectives with the Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau collaborated with Santa Clarita Valley detective in their search for the son. A special bulletin released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department prompted the public to also help with the search. The son was found a week later and taken in.

In May, the son pleaded not guilty to first degree murder. His preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for August 1, was rescheduled three times.

The gun connected with the murder has still not been found by police.

The son is currently being held at the Pitchess Detention Center on $2,055,000 bail.

California Penal Code Section 187 defines murder as “the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought.” An aggravated first degree murder conviction can result in either the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Both of these outcomes produce the same effect on the convict: they effectively end his or her life.

Facing a murder charge can be extremely stressful. In your eyes, your life may already seem to be over. However, it's important to remember that the prosecutor has much to prove in order to secure a murder conviction. The prosecutor has to establish that you not only committed the murder, but also intended to do so with “malice aforethought,” meaning you were fully aware of your actions.

An effective and dependable southern California homicide defense attorney at The Law Offices of Daniel E. Kann can help you disprove the prosecutor's claims and acquire either significantly reduced penalties or dropped charges altogether. For a free consultation, call us today at (888) 744-7730.