Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
On May 24, 27-year-old Alicia Fox and her two children went missing. Fox’s body was eventually located by relatives in an abandoned home in Detroit, however the children, 6-year-old Kaylah Hunter, and 8-month-ol Kristian Justice, have yet to be found. Erin Justice, Alicia’s husband, was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment hearing on Wednesday, August 27, according to a news article at Mlive.com.
Erin Justice has not been charged with any crime related to the disappearance of the children, one of whom was his, but he did flee to Atlanta after his wife went missing. He fought extradition from Atlanta until recently, and is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, who was found to have bullet wounds. Authorities believe Fox was killed in the home she and Justice shared before her body was moved to the basement in an abandoned home. Her decomposing body was found in early August. During the investigation into Fox’s disappearance, police found blood evidence in the couple’s home on Ardmore.
In addition to first-degree murder, Justice is charged with felony firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.
Michigan criminal defense attorneys know that fighting charges of murder is tough. If convicted of first-degree murder, Justice will likely face consequences that include spending the rest of his life behind bars. As with all crimes, a defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors in the case will have to provide strong and compelling evidence in order for Justice to be found guilty.
Regardless of the seriousness of the crime a person is accused of, having a skilled and aggressive Michigan criminal defense lawyer on your side is critical. Hiring a capable attorney is the most important step you can take in your own defense, as your lawyer will investigate the details, examine the evidence, work to determine if any mistakes were made by police or if your legal rights may have been violated, and more. There are many options when it comes to protecting your freedom and future; don’t make the mistake of trying to go it alone, without effective legal counsel.