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Attempted Murder Charges in Nashville, TN

Contact a Nashville Attempted Murder Attorney Immediately

If you have been charged with a crime such as attempted murder, remember this: the outcome of your case will hinge on a prosecutor's ability to prove your intent. Does the prosecution have enough true insight into your thoughts to demonstrate that your actions were premeditated? A successful outcome in your case may mean achieving a downgrading of the charges against you. Perhaps your actions could justify charges of aggravated assault — and even then, it is up to the prosecution to prove those charges beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Why Choose Our Attempted Murder Lawyers

In the face of attempted murder charges, nothing short of the best and most tenacious defense representation will do. That is the level of counsel delivered at May McKinney. Attempted murders are complex cases. Not only do our Nashville defense attorneys have more than 80 years of combined experience, but they stop at nothing to pursue the best possible outcome in every case they touch. If you need help navigating your attempted murder sentence, our Nashville murder lawyer is ready to help!

Call (615) 265-6383 or contact us online to find out how our Nashville attempted murder lawyers can help you. We serve clients in Nashville, Franklin, Mount Juliet, Brentwood, and throughout Tennessee.

Attempted Murder Definition

Attempted murder is the unsuccessful act of killing another person. To be convicted of attempted murder, a demonstration of intent to murder must be present, the perpetrator attempted to murder yet failed.

Elements of Attempted Murder

There are two elements required in attempted murder:

  • Offender took action toward killing a person (direct action)
  • Offender's act was intended to kill a person (intent to kill)

What is Considered Attempted Murder?

To be considered attempted murder, there must be the presence of a "direct action." This means merely preparing or planning to kill someone is not sufficient to satisfy the elements of attempted murder. Additionally, there must be "intent to kill" present in attempted murder. Causing bodily harm is not sufficient proof of attempted murder unless evidence of actual intent to kill is there.

Attempted Murder Sentence in Tennessee

How many years can you get for attempted murder? Typically, attempted murder is charged in degrees. These include:

  • First-degree attempted murder: requires premeditation or a willful act
    • Often a life sentence; at least 10 years in prison
    • Possible parole
  • Second-degree attempted murder: any other act that is not deliberate or planned
    • 5 - 15 years in prison, depending on whether serious injury was inflicted
    • Prior criminal record will enhance the sentence

To learn more about attempted first-degree murder in Tennessee or second-degree attempted murder, contact our murder defense attorneys in Nashville.

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At May McKinney, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

    "I could not be more satisfied with the outcome McKinney Law produced."

    I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you and your entire team. I could not be more satisfied with the outcome McKinney law produced, especially considering the circumstances. McKinney law helped me navigate and overcome difficulties that I am still astounded by. Even through these stressful times, you were there for me and my family. I will not hesitate to recommend or if ever needed have you represent me again. I will certainly let anyone I know, that you and your team are the best hands down! Thanks again, Rob! Your assistance and representation were completely amazing!

    - Jason B.
    "Held my hand every step of the way in one of the most horrible times in my life."
    There are no words to express how grateful I am to Rob McKinney. He was there for me when I was confronted with a very difficult time in my life. Rob fought long and hard to prove the good of my situation. His team was behind me every step of the way during the long drawn out time frame. Rob never gave up on me and made me feel cared about through every obstacle we faced. I am very confident that he is now someone who I can call "a Friend" for life. The best word to use in description of Rob is AWESOME!
    - Barbara N.
    "He Changed My Life"
    He is the type of attorney who listens to your problem instead of not caring about what is going on just to get your money
    - Brianna
    "If your looking for a great lawyer, stop looking & hire these guys!"
    I can’t thank Rob Mckinney enough for all of his help with my case . I had never been in trouble before, & was very leery on paying for a lawyer, but from the moment I hired them, until my case was over, I never regretted my decision to have them represent me. Both Rob & Shyanne took every one of my phone calls, & answered every question that I ever could possibly come up. I was an emotional mess from the get go, and probably asked 1000 more questions than necessary, but they took the time to go through absolutely everything with me, and never made me feel like I was wasting their time or that I was inferior to them. Their knowledge, wisdom and guidance was so comforting & helped me with the stress of the legal process. My case took 2 years & 13 court appearances, so it was not an easy journey, but they made me feel at ease the entire time, & in the end, the charges were dropped. Thank you ! - Lisa F (aka super satisfied client)
    - Lisa F
    "Maestro of the room"
    Rob is extremely intelligent and makes you feel comfortable at the same time considering your situation His staff is prompt knowledgeable and very kind Would recommend to anyone And would believe if they can not assist that they would lead you in the correct way It has been a pleasure These guys are worth every penny Thank you again
    - John
    "Mr. McKinney is listed with Super Layers for a reason!"
    In the darkest and most ashamed moment of my life, Mr. McKinney with all of his kindness, encouragement, and unsurpassed knowledge for the Tennessee law was by my side. I am nearly 60 years old and never had a conflict in my life, let alone one that involved an uncontrollable emotional reaction, that resulted in a physical altercation. Yet under the influence of prescribed drugs for insomnia, anxiety management, and alcohol, I made a grave mistake which resulted in Class C Aggravated Assault Felony Charge. To complicate matters, I am not a resident of Tennessee. It goes without saying that Mr. McKinney has earned the utmost respect as a top tier lawyer from the Tennessee court system. He was able to professionally articulate my case to the court, emphasizing that I risk losing employment, showed that I voluntarily turned myself in, and that I was a first-time offender. The court listened to him and as a result he was able to negotiate terms that far exceeded my expectations. I spent a lot of time between my arrest and court appearance researching the standard outcomes for an aggravated assault charge in the State of Tennessee, and based on what I read, I expected the worst judgement to be passed down. Mr. McKinney however worked with the court system to not impose jailtime and an opportunity to have the charges expunged from my record. I know that I will forever be ashamed and grieve over the event, but he was able to provide me with the opportunity to work the rest of my life making this right to the victim, my family, and others that were emotionally impacted. Mr. McKinney is worth his weight in gold. He knows the law. He is respected. He is highly skilled as a lawyer. He is the very best. I only wish I met and got to know of him under better circumstances.
    - SB
    "Incredibly helpful"
    This was my first experience ever being accused of a crime and I was very nervous and scared. Rob and his staff were incredibly helpful, answering all of my questions and putting my mind at ease throughout the process. In the end, we were able to get everything dismissed successfully. Although in the grand scheme, my case was a relatively minor one, Rob always was there to help and it was clear that his knowledge and experience would be hard to find anywhere else. I would absolutely recommend Rob and his team to anyone looking for a defense attorney.
    - SA
    "So grateful"
    Can't say enough good things about Rob and his team. I have used him on 2 or 3 occasions in different areas of law, He provided us with a caring , comforting atmosphere and explained all aspects of the steps necessary to achieve our desired outcome. Will highly recommend Mr. McKinney in whatever aspect of what the problem is . You will not regret it.
    - Donna Pearson
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Why Choose May McKinney?

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  • Nearly 80 Years of Combined Experience
    Our accomplished attorneys bring almost eight decades of combined criminal defense experience.
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