The state of Washington has a very narrow category of homicide that is age-specific. Known as "homicide by abuse," a person can commit this crime when, under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life, but not necessarily creating a grave risk of death, a person causes the death of a vulnerable individual. Under the statute the defendants must have been previously engaged in a pattern or practice of assault on or torture of the vulnerable individual.
Homicide by abuse applies to the death of vulnerable classes of persons such as children (under age 16), the elderly and/developmentally disabled. The crimes requires 3 (three) basic elements: 1) A vulnerable person dies; 2) Under circumstances of an extreme indifference to human life; 3) The defendant has committed previous patterns of assault or torture upon the same victim.
Examples of homicide by abuse include death caused by child abuse, or failure to provide basic necessities to an elderly person.
A statute of limitations is a law which prohibits prosecutors from charging someone with a crime that was committed more than a specified number of years ago. However, not all crimes have a statute of limitation or time limit. Murder, specifically homicide by abuse, is one of those crimes.
Most states do not impose a time limit on murder charges. This means a murder charge can be filed even decades after the alleged killing has occurred.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you, and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties, and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer.