Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
In June of 2012, 29-year-old David Meyer died after suffering gunshot wounds allegedly inflicted by 52-year-old Jack Carpenter of Ishpeming. Carpenter claims that he shot Meyer in self-defense after Meyer attempted to assault him with a knife. Carpenter is charged with open murder in the death of the victim; his attorney, Karl Numinen, says that his client was standing his ground, and that his actions were justifiable within Michigan’s stand your ground and self defense law.
Carpenter’s defense attorney requested the judge grant Carpenter immunity, however the judge denied the motion on the basis of allegations made by the prosecutor, who said Carpenter was intoxicated at the time of the shooting.
In August of this year Matt Wiese, Marquette County Prosecutor, explained at a final pretrial hearing that he had offered a plea agreement to Carpenter offering him the opportunity to plead guilty to manslaughter, a 15 year felony. Wiese told the judge that the defendant had rejected the plea deal, so Carpenter would go on trial on charges of open murder and felony firearm.
Carpenter’s trial is set to begin today, September 25 after jury selection was completed on Tuesday. According to a news article at Upper Michigan’s Source, the two men became involved in an altercation at the defendant’s home. Carpenter alleges that the victim threatened him and tried to assault him with a knife, so he defended himself by shooting Meyer.
Michigan homicide defense lawyers understand the life-changing consequences individuals who are convicted of open or first-degree murder face. A conviction on charges of first-degree murder may leave the accused facing life in prison.
Murder charges are extremely serious, however there are cases in which charges may be reduced to manslaughter or another lesser offense in order to limit the damage to a defendant’s life. If you have been wrongly accused, it is imperative to consult with an aggressive Michigan criminal defense attorney who will fight hard to have charges dismissed or secure a not-guilty verdict at trial.