Murder Charges Downgraded; No Life Sentence

At Kenny, Burns & McGill, we are proud to stand up for our clients’ constitutional rights, even if they have been accused of terrible crimes, including murder.

Every defendant has a family who cares about them. Every defendant is a person who, even if they have made an awful mistake, deserves punishment that fits the crime and ultimately provides for their rehabilitation and future reentry into society.

One of our clients was facing life in prison following charges which stemmed from an alleged quadruple murder in West Philadelphia.

Attorney Thomas Kenny, a seasoned criminal defense attorney who formerly prosecuted similar cases during his tenure as an Assistant District Attorney for the City of Philadelphia, conducted an in-depth private investigation into the circumstances and evidence surrounding the alleged murders.

Our client, a young man who had never been in trouble with the law, chose to own up to his actions and admit his role in the alleged incident. He took responsibility for what transpired. And while he did not physically take anyone’s life, he recognized that his part in the alleged robbery and murder was still important and he wanted to find a way to move past this tragedy.

For his role in the alleged incident, our client was originally charged with the following, along with several lesser offenses:

• 4 counts of Murder in the First Degree (each carrying a mandatory life sentence)
• 4 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Murder
• 4 counts of Robbery

Attorney Kenny successfully argued for the charges to be changed to better fit the situation and to better provide for our client’s protection against disproportionate punishment (like spending life in prison) for his role in the alleged murders.

Following Mr. Kenny’s arguments, the charges were dropped down to the following offenses, to which our client pleaded guilty:

• 4 counts of Murder in the Third Degree
• 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
• 2 counts of Robbery

“He did not shoot anyone. He is not testifying against anyone, but he is here as a person who is very remorseful, and he wanted to take responsibility,” Attorney Kenny said in a statement to the press.

Notably, our client has not entered into any sort of deal with the District Attorney’s Office in exchange for pleading guilty. He has also not agreed to testify against any of the other alleged actors. He has come forward of his own volition and wants to do his part to remedy a terrible situation.

“This was a very, very tragic situation, obviously for the families involved but also for [my client]. He has never been touched by something like this, and he is very upset by what happened that night, and he now wants to move on and start a new chapter.” Source.

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Kenny, Burns & McGill is a private criminal defense firm which specializes in cases that are difficult to handle or sensitive in nature. Our firm does not back down.

Kenny, Burns & McGill offers legal services throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Its attorneys provide high-value representation to defendants and their families.

Read more about our criminal justice services. Text or call (215) 423-5500 if you or a loved one are facing active criminal charges and need to hire an attorney who will fight for your rights.