Residents of Newark and other parts of New Jersey may want to learn more about the way that the New Jersey law sees an overdose death. It holds you liable for homicide if you manufactured, distributed or dispensed a controlled substance that caused the death of someone from an overdose.
According to FindLaw, you may fall under New Jersey Statutes Title 2C, which talks about the relationship between overdose and guilt of a crime. You may be liable under New Jersey law.
What are the drugs involved?
Some of the drugs considered include the following:
- Methamphetamine
- Lysergic acid diethylamide
- Phencyclidine
- Other controlled dangerous substance
What if you manufacture the drugs?
The law applies to those who manufacture and distribute the controlled substance. It also applies to the dispensing of drugs. This means the selling of the drugs as well.
What must the defendant have done for a murder charge?
Making, dispensing and selling of the drug must have resulted in the death of a person. That person ingested, inhaled or injected the drug and died as a result. Death would not have occurred if the person did not take the drug.
The death must not relate to the conduct of someone else, such as in a fight. It must not have been too long ago to hold the criminal defense defendant liable.
Convicted drug trafficking
This is separate from drug trafficking. It may not be in combination with such a case.
The law makes it separate from:
- Laws regarding the leader of a narcotics trafficking network
- Laws regarding operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility
- Other manufacturing, distributing, dispensing or possessing that resulted in death.
Given the severity of New Jersey charges for selling drugs, it might be wise for someone to think twice before engaging in illegal drug distribution. Those who have been charged may benefit from speaking with an attorney.
