Teenager Arrested for Murder of Family Member in Fayetteville

Fayette County Courthouse

Fayetteville, Ga. - A teenager in Fayette County has been arrested on murder charges in connection to the death of her grandmother.

According to reports, the grandmother was found deceased in her home on Monday. Her granddaughter was arrested later that morning. No other details have been released as of right now, but as a Fayette County Criminal Lawyer, I will outline the law behind the offense of murder in the state of Georgia.

Murder in Georgia

O.C.G.A. §16-5-1(a) defines Murder in Georgia as:

A person commits the offense of murder when he unlawfully and with malice aforethought, express or implied, causes the death of another human being.

There are a few very important terms that set murder apart from other homicide offenses in our state such as manslaughter or felony murder.

Our courts define malice as a wicked or corrupt motive or an intention to do evil and which the result is fatal and an unlawful objective to kill without justification or mitigation.

Express malice is the deliberate intention to unlawfully take the life of another human being, which is manifested by external circumstances capable of proof. Malice shall be implied where no considerable provocation appears and where all the circumstances of the killing show an abandoned and malignant heart.

It probably goes without saying that the criminal offense of murder is classified as a felony in the state of Georgia. The penalty if convicted of murder is either life in prison without the possibility of parole, a life sentence, or the death penalty.

Practice Note

There are various serious violent felonies in the state of Georgia. It is extremely important that if you or a loved one has been arrested for a criminal offense that you hire experienced representation. Call our offices today for a consultation. We can let you know how we can help you.