After two years of investigation and litigation over the death of ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson, the Los Angeles Superior Court with its juries returned a verdict of Dr. Murray found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of his client Jackson. The verdict says that Dr. Murray failed to supervised his patient from taking the anesthetic propofol as well as failure to respond properly after Michael Jackson stopped breathing. The sentence will be made final on November 29, 2011 where Dr. Murray may sustain up to four years of jail time plus withdrawal of his license to medical practice. This is one of the many high-profile criminal cases in history especially in Hollywood. And it’s in this kind of event in someone’s life where the services of a California criminal defense attorney will play a great role throughout the legal processes.

A man can be charged of involuntary manslaughter or accidental killing when he kill another man but with the absence of “intent” on the crime. Since the death is accidental, the penalties which may be induced to the accused is one step down from murder conviction. But it doesn’t mean that employing the help of a California criminal defense attorney is with less significance. There are many things that an accused must show to the court to prove innocence to the crime and winning the case alone is close to impossible.

In the face of law, manslaughter can be justified compared to murder cases. While murder was acted deliberately, manslaughter shows no sigh of intent to kill. Manslaughter can be categorized as voluntary and involuntary. In whatever case a person may be in, it is important to have a California criminal defense attorney to represent him.

In voluntary manslaughter, the defendant may be proven to have shown intent to harm another man but the present conditions at the moment the crime was committed may be used to lessen the liability. A California criminal defense attorney may used the following tactics and reasons to protect his client: imperfect self-defense, heat of passion, diminished responsibility, and provocation.

On the other hand, a defense lawyer may use the following defenses regarding to involuntary manslaughter: self-defense or defense of others, accident, insufficient evidence, and false accusation. Even manslaughter is a step down from murder, there is no guarantee that you will be free of death liability. Having a defense lawyer must be on the top of your priorities if you get involved in this kind of lawsuit.