3 Ways You Can Help Protect Your Family When A Loved One Is Charged With Murder
When it comes to murder trials, everyone always focuses on the family of the victim. Their grief and mourning is highlighted, while no one thinks to look at the family of the accused. You and your family are people too--the murder trial will affect your family in ways you wouldn't imagine. Here are three ways you can help protect your family when a loved one is charged with murder.
1. Don't speak with the media about the trial or your loved one.
One of the worst mistakes you can make is to speak with the media about your loved one or the trial. You may mean well, and you may want to show the good side of your loved one, but it's not good for your family.
Once you agree to speak with one media outlet, you'll be hounded by others. Your home should be a place where you can get away from the noise surrounding your loved one's trial, but that'll change the moment you give an interview. If you stay quiet, the media will eventually get bored and look for other sources of information.
Another reason to avoid speaking with the media is you could greatly hinder your loved one's case. If their attorney tells you not to speak with the media about the case, then don't. This is especially true if the judge has issued a gag order during the trial. Talk with a professional criminal lawyer, such as those at Alexander & Associates, P.C., for more information on what you should and shouldn't say if you're approached by the media.
2. Put as much distance between your family and the trial as you can.
If you have children and a close loved one is accused of murder, it can be confusing for them. Being a kid is hard enough these days, and having everyone say you're related to a murderer can make it much worse.
If you notice that the murder trial is starting to affect your children, then you need to put as much distance between you and the trial that you can. This may mean not showing up for the trial every day to support your loved one.
You may also need to relocate, if at all possible. Your main priority should be your significant other and your children. Sometimes the only way to protect them during a loved one's murder trial is to take them away from where the trial is taking place.
3. Seek therapy for your family.
Another way to help protect your family during a loved one's murder trial is to recognize that things aren't normal. You shouldn't try to pretend that things are normal. Put distance between your family and the trial, yes, but don't try to act like the trial isn't happening. Therapy can help in this situation.
Whether you go to family counseling, find a local support group, or you each have individual sessions with a counselor, therapy can help you all process what's going on with your loved one and their murder trial. Therapy can also help you in various aspects of your life after the trial is over.