When a person is accused of criminal activity, that individual is guaranteed certain rights. An accused person has the right to be presumed innocent until and unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, regardless of whether the individual faces misdemeanor or felony charges. He or she also has the right to criminal defense counsel who advocate on behalf of the accused and work to ensure that all applicable legal right are honored.
A professor at a Florida college has been accused of abuse of a disabled adult and attempted murder in the second-degree. According to reports, the woman’s husband and son accused her of attempting to smother her disabled husband with a pillow on two occasions. The couple’s son supposedly caught his mother in the process of her second attempt.
The husband suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and is a paraplegic. Somehow, he managed to fend off both alleged attacks. He claims that, after the first attempt, his wife admitted to trying to kill him. When police arrived at the family home after the alleged second attempt, the woman was not even at the residence. A few days later, she went to police of her own volition.
The felony charges filed against the Florida woman could come with severe consequences, both professionally and personally. However, no criminal consequences can occur unless she is actually convicted ot the charges pending against her. Having an understanding of the charges and upcoming court proceedings may be crucial in preparing an effective defense.
Source: wdtn.com, “Florida professor accused of trying to murder her disabled husband“, Oct. 6, 2015
