Murder Defense Attorney in Alexandria, Virginia
What is your experience in handling homicide cases?
What is your experience in handling homicide cases?
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I probably at various levels in the case int terms of trial, appeal, post-conviction, I’ve probably handled about 20 murder cases in my career. Different jurisdictions, all different kinds of cases, I’ve probably done seven or eight capital murder cases, a few where the government was seeking a death sentence. The majority of them though were not capital cases they were people charged with first or second-degree murder in a Virginia court or Washington, DC. The first one I had was probably in 2002, and I’m representing three people for murder right now in different jurisdictions, two in federal court and one in state court. But just like with any kind of case, the commonality between murder cases is that the penalty is extremely high and somebody’s life is on the line one way or the other.
Other than that, every case is very, very different and the results can be widely disparate and it takes a long time to sort of sort out everything. One big thing about that kind of case too is you’re not just defending the case you really need to learn everything about your client’s background that can be brought forward in mitigation in case they’re convicted of something. Because like I said, the sentences can vary a lot and a lot of that can come down to the mitigation investigation or how well the lawyers were able to present their clients background to explain the situation.
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Alexandria, VA criminal defense attorney Chris Leibig talks about his extensive experience in defending homicide cases. He estimates that over the course of his career, he has handled approximately 20 murder cases at various stages, including trial, appeal, and post-conviction proceedings. These cases span multiple jurisdictions and a wide range of circumstances. Among them, he has managed seven or eight capital murder cases, in which the government sought the death penalty. The majority, however, involved first- or second-degree murder charges in Virginia or Washington, D.C. His first murder case dates back to around 2002, and he is currently representing three clients charged with murder in different jurisdictions—two in federal court and one in state court.
He emphasizes that, despite the differences among individual cases, a consistent factor is the exceptionally high stakes: a person’s life is directly affected by the outcome. Beyond that, each case is highly distinct, and the results can vary significantly. He notes that achieving the best possible outcome often requires a detailed understanding of the client’s personal history. Comprehensive mitigation investigations are critical, as they allow the defense to present the client’s background and circumstances effectively, which can substantially influence sentencing if a conviction occurs.
He underscores that, in murder cases, the combination of legal strategy and thorough mitigation work is essential to navigating the complexities of the justice system and advocating for the client’s best interests.
