Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Tennessee homicide attorneys provide aggressive representation for clients charged with any of the eight homicide offenses recognized in Tennessee. The penalty for any homicide crime is significant. Tennessee homicide lawyers understand how important these charges are and will fight for you at every stage of the legal proceeding.

Many negative connotations are associated with the word homicide. Not all homicides are committed with malicious intent. This is often the case in vehicular homicide cases. According to Tennessee law, vehicular homicide is the reckless killing of another by the operation of an automobile, airplane, motorboat or other motor vehicle, as the proximate result of:

• Conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person;
• As the proximate result of conduct constituting the offense of drag racing; or
• By the driver's intoxication. Intoxication includes alcohol intoxication, drug intoxication, or both.

Vehicular homicide under the first two bullets is considered to be a Class C felony. Vehicular homicide under the last bullet is a Class B felony. Not only does the accused face jail time, the court will take away driving privileges if convicted of a vehicular homicide charge. The court shall prohibit a defendant convicted of vehicular homicide from driving a vehicle in Tennessee for no less than three years or more than ten years. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-213 (2007).

Vehicular homicide can become aggravated in certain circumstances. Aggravated vehicular homicide is vehicular homicide, as discussed above where:

• The defendant has two or more prior convictions for:
A) DUI; B)Vehicular assault; C) or a combination of the two.
• The defendant has one or more prior convictions for the offense of vehicular homicide; or
• There was, at the time of the offense, .20% or more, by weight of alcohol in the defendant's blood and the defendant has one prior conviction for:
A) DUI; or B) Vehicular assault.

The term prior conviction here means an offense for which the defendant was convicted prior to the commission of the instant vehicular homicide and includes convictions occurring prior to July 1, 1996. The term prior conviction could also include convictions under the laws of another state, government, or country depending upon the circumstances.

Aggravated vehicular homicide is a serious charge in Tennessee. It is a Class A felony, the highest level of felonies. If you are charged with vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular homicide, or another homicide charge, contact a Tennessee homicide lawyer. Tennessee homicide attorneys assist clients in the Knoxville, Sevierville, Johnson City, Greenville, Maryville, Bristol, and Kingsport areas.