Legal question about attempted murder?

Question

Okay, so I'm writing a "book" wherein one of my characters--a female--is charged with attempted murder. Basically, the incident occurs in Illinois, she flees the scene and goes to Washington state.

In Washington, she gets tangled up in some issues that bring her into contact with police, which is how she finds out she's been accused of attempted murder.

She gets arrested in Washington and...

THAT'S where things get a bit fuzzy for me, legally. What would happen? Would she be sent back to Illinois or what? Also, would there be a warrant out for her arrest in this case?

(The attempted murder was actually self-defense, but the victim claims otherwise).

AND if she does end up having to go back to Illinois to fight the charges, how likely is it that she'd be able to avoid going to trial? Like, if someone/some evidence came forward to prove her innocent, would charges just be dropped without a trial/further investigation?

Ugh. This is making my head hurt. The crazy thing is that this attempted murder thing isn't even really a central part of my story--I just want it to be accurate because I seriously hate when writers don't have their facts straight.

Any help? Or, at the very least, someone point me in the direction where I could find more information about this?

Answer 1

Some of you need to wake up. This is an astronaut, someone who underwent intensive psychological testing, who was trained to work UNDER PRESSURE. It is what she does for a living. She then had a 900 mile drive to contemplate what she was going to do. It is amazing to think that people are already buying into her preplanned defense. She knew exactly what she was doing. And I agree with an earlier poster, it was obvious from the pepper spray and knife and so on that she was only going to 'talk' and if you believe that I have some swampland in Florida I want to get rid of. She sprayed the woman with the pepper spray, that is sure a good way of starting a conversation. This is a highly intelligent woman used to stress. The whole thing about mental anguish was a prepared defense in case she got caught. And even if she was suffering from it to a degree, it does not excuse attempted murder.

Answer 2

If she is charged for murder and they want to take her to trial that means their case is strong enough they feel to get a conviction. If she has evidence showing she is innocent she would not have ran, and she would get extradited from Washington back to Illinois.

Answer 3

If you commit a crime in one state, and flee to another, the state you committed a crime in will most likely issue a warrant for your arrest, almost certainly in felony cases. In that case, when you're picked up, wherever in the United States you are, and it's discovered that you are wanted in another state, you'll be sent back (Rather, escorted back by some unfriendly government types) to the place where you origionally committed the crime.

Answer 4

The authorities will hold her for extradition which will take a judge to do. As for trial, she will first appear at an arraignment then a trial will be set.

Answer 5

hmm. carged with attempted murder? if you are actually charged with such the state (Illinois) would begin extridition process. you would be held in Washington State until you were shipped back to Illinois.



in Illinois you would be indicted.

Answer 6

Many women kill their husband and them claim abuse (sad) because he can't testify. You will be extradited back to the state where the crime was commited. Although I would like to see all men who abuse their mate beat the crap out of ! They still don't deserve the death penalty. I hope your friend goes to jail ! She deserves it !

Answer 7

I have no idea. But! It does sound like a great story! Publish it and I'll buy it. :) Whats it called?