Murder and Manslaughter Defence Lawyer Sydney

Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers for Indictable Offences

Manslaughter and murder are severe offences that require immense care, research and expertise to achieve a successful defence. Without a proper defence, you could be facing life imprisonment.

Our expert criminal lawyers can shave years off your manslaughter or murder charges. With an exceptional 97% success rate across more than 1,700 complex cases, we know how to deliver superior results to our clients.

We deliver proven strategies and creative problem-solving to give your case the best chance at success. Whether you’re defending voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, murder or constructive murder charges, we’re the murder and manslaughter defence lawyer you need in your corner.

We have acted in a High Court appeal of a life sentence for high-profile politically-motivated murder;

We have acted in multiple cases with allegations of murder, including a high-profile female immigrant accused of killing her spouse.

Contact us to book an appointment with our criminal defence lawyers today. The sooner we act, the more compelling and successful our defence will be.

At Green & Associates Solicitors, we act for the full range of matters that relate to employment law. We are uniquely placed to advise and act for any person or business.

We provide in-house advice to companies on a range of matters, including:

employment-law issues (i.e. enforcing or dispute a restraint of trade clause for previous or new employees);
compliance and regulatory issues (i.e. licencing and underquoting breaches)
criminal matters;
property matters;
defamation proceedings; and
all types of commercial matters (i.e. drafting shareholder agreements).

Why choose a murder defence lawyer from our team?

At Green & Associates, we go the extra mile to ensure all our clients get the best possible defence for their cases. With over 40 years of combined experience, we’re the murder and manslaughter lawyer Sydney-siders choose for life-changing results.

Alongside our extensive industry knowledge, we leverage our strong relationships with some of the region’s leading criminal barristers, prosecutors, judicial officers and local police to build a robust defence for your case.

We understand how complex and overwhelming the legal process can be – especially when facing murder or manslaughter charges. We treat our clients with exceptional care and dedicated support to reduce stress throughout the process.

We keep our fees transparent and deliver upfront costs with no unexpected bills. Plus, we offer a 10% discount if you pay your fees within 7 days of signing with us.

If you or someone you know is facing a manslaughter or murder charge in Sydney, take a look at our service areas below or contact one of our leading Kings Cross lawyers today.

Our service areas include:



Potts Point



Kings Cross



Woolloomooloo



Rushcutters Bay



Elizabeth Bay



Darlinghurst



Surry Hills

Not in any of these locations? View our full list of service areas online and get the ball rolling on your case.

When do you need a manslaughter defence lawyer?

Manslaughter is defined as the accidental, unintentional or unmotivated killing of another person. To be guilty of manslaughter, the offender must have acted in a way that resulted in the death of another person (or a group of people) either by acting through recklessness, indifference or the failure to fulfil a duty of care.

There are two main types of manslaughter under Australian law: voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

What is voluntary manslaughter?

Voluntary manslaughter occurs when the offender acts with reckless indifference to human life and with the intent of causing serious harm or death to the deceased party(s).

Voluntary manslaughter is similar to murder in that the offender acted with the intention of harming the deceased. However, voluntary manslaughter charges apply when the responsibility or culpability of the offender is less than that of a murder charge.

Examples of voluntary manslaughter include:



Acting out of excessive self-defence



Acting due to provocation



Acting during a period of substantial impairment

What is involuntary manslaughter?

Involuntary manslaughter by criminal negligence

This applies when the offender had no intent to kill the deceased, but acted in a way that:

Involved a high risk of serious injury, bodily harm or death, and;
Did not meet the standard of care that a reasonable person should have exercised under the same circumstances

An example of involuntary manslaughter would be if a parent, carer or guardian did not fulfil their duty of care to a vulnerable party, which resulted in their death.

To be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by criminal negligence, it must be found that:

The offender had a legal duty of care to the deceased
The offender acted or failed to act in a way that accelerated or caused the death of the deceased
This act or failure to act breached the legal duty of care of the offender

Involuntary manslaughter by unlawful and dangerous act

This applies if the offender did not intend to kill the deceased, but knowingly acted in an unlawful and dangerous manner. An act is classified as dangerous and unlawful if it is against the law and if a reasonable person would have recognised the risk of injury and death before proceeding.

To be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by unlawful or dangerous act, it must be proven that:

The deceased was killed by the actions of the offender
The offender committed the act intentionally
The act was unlawful
The act was dangerous

Both voluntary and involuntary manslaughter carry heavy penalties in Australia, with a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.

If you or someone you know is facing manslaughter charges in Sydney, you need an expert manslaughter defence lawyer on your team. Get in touch with Green & Associates today and give your case the best chance at success.

When do you need a criminal murder lawyer?

Murder is defined as killing a person while acting with reckless indifference to human life, with the intent to kill or with the intent to inflict severe bodily harm. This includes situations in which the offender kills a person while committing other offences, including robbery, assault or rape.

For an offender to be found guilty of murder, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the offender:



Voluntarily acted with the intention of killing the deceased, or;



Voluntarily acted with reckless indifference to human life, or;



Voluntarily acted with the intent to inflict severe bodily harm on the deceased.

The prosecution must also prove that the actions of the offender were substantially or significantly responsible for the death of the deceased.

Penalties for murder in NSW

The maximum penalty for murder in NSW is life imprisonment. Under the Crimes Act 1900, anyone convicted of a murder charge is liable to receive life in prison. However, shorter prison sentences are common depending on the circumstances of the case.

Penalties for murder are determined partly by the intentions of the offender — for example, a lighter sentence may be given if the offender can prove they intended to cause grievous bodily harm to the deceased, but did not intend to kill them.

A standard non-parole period of 20 years applies to all murder convictions in Australia, which means the minimum amount of time spent in prison for a murder charge is 20 years.

If you or someone you know needs a murder defence lawyer in Sydney, call Green & Associates today.

FAQs about murder and manslaughter

What is constructive murder?

Constructive murder is a type of murder that occurs while an offender (or an accomplice to the offender) is committing or attempting to commit a criminal offence that is punishable by at least 25 years in prison.

An example of constructive murder would be if the offender or an accomplice to the offender committed murder during or immediately after:

Robbery resulting in wounding
Robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon

Our expert criminal murder lawyers have experience with a wide range of murder and manslaughter charges. Contact us today and we’ll build the strongest defence for your case.

What are some common defences for murder and manslaughter charges?

The two main defences for murder and manslaughter in NSW are self-defence and duress.

A person can be found not guilty if they killed the deceased while defending themselves. A person is legally allowed to defend themselves or defend another person in response to a physical attack or the threat of an attack.

For a claim of self-defence to be successful, it must be found that the offender acted in a way that was a reasonable response to the situation. The offender can still be found guilty if they defended themselves in a way that is seen as excessive by the court.

Acting under duress is another common defence and occurs when the offender commits murder or manslaughter because they (or another party) were threatened with death, serious injury or grievous harm. Alongside proof of the threat, it must be found that:

The offender acted reasonably under the circumstances of the threat
The offender was unable to prevent the threat
The offender acted because of the threat and not because of a different motive
If you or someone you know is facing manslaughter or murder charges, contact Green & Associates today. Our expert murder case lawyers will deliver the strongest defence for your case.

Don’t settle for second best. Get a leading murder case lawyer from Green & Associates on your team today.

With a stellar 97% success rate on over 1,500 cases, you can rely on our team to deliver the best possible outcome for your case. Call Green & Associates and get a leading murder or manslaughter defence lawyer in your corner today.

Murder & Manslaughter