What is murder?

Murder is a homicide crime defined as the intentional killing of one human being by another with malice aforethought. Malice aforethought is a state of mind, or intent, requirement that makes a homicide a murder. It is this state of mind that differentiates murder from other types of criminal homicide like voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.

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Criminally Negligent Homicide

Criminally negligent homicide requires the lowest mental state of all of the homicide offenses: criminal negligence. Criminal negligence is where a defendant should be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk, and ignores or fails to appreciate that risk.

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What is homicide?

Homicide is the killing of one person by another. Every state has some type of homicide statute, but the concept behind the homicide charge evolved from common law principles. Under common law, homicide is classified in three ways including justifiable homicide, excusable homicide, and criminal homicide.

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What is voluntary manslaughter?

Voluntary manslaughter occurs when a person intentionally kills another person after adequate provocation, that is, there has been action that was sufficient to incite an ordinary person to sudden and intense passion such that he loses self-control.

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Vehicular Manslaughter

Vehicular manslaughter, also known as vehicular homicide, occurs when an individual recklessly causes the death of another person through the use of a motor vehicle.

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What is negligent homicide?

Negligent homicide occurs when one person causes the death of another without malice, but with a high level of negligence that amounts to criminal negligence.

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Felony Murder: Specific Intent to Kill

Felony murder is the intentional taking of the life of another; and if convicted, an offender faces an extremely high punishment range, including the death penalty in some states. As such, any defendant charged with felony murder, should understand the charge, any possible defenses, and the punishment options for a felony murder allegation.

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What is involuntary manslaughter?

Involuntary manslaughter is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought. Read on for more on involuntary manslaughter charges, including penalty and sentence information.

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