Homicide, Murder & Capital Murder

In Texas, a person is charged with criminal homicide if they intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence cause the death of another individual. Under Texas law, criminal homicide includes offenses such as Murder, Capital Murder, Manslaughter, and Criminally Negligent Homicide.

A Murder charge may be elevated to Capital Murder if it involves specific circumstances outlined in the Texas Penal Code. These circumstances include: (1) murdering a peace officer or fireman who is performing official duties and whom the perpetrator knows is such an officer or fireman; (2) committing murder during the course of another serious crime, such as kidnapping or robbery; (3) committing murder for financial gain or under a promise of payment; (4) murdering while escaping from a penal institution; (5) murdering a penal institution employee while incarcerated; (6) murdering another individual while serving a life sentence or a term of 99 years; (7) committing multiple murders in a single transaction or scheme; (8) murdering a child under 10 years of age; (9) murdering a person aged 10 to 14 years; or (10) committing murder in retaliation for the service or status of the victim as a judge.