Murder

Please note: this page is not a substitute for a lawyer and is meant only to inform, not to set guidelines or provide legal advice.

Murder is morally defined as the deliberate act of ending another living being's life, although the legal definition of murder may vary by type depending on the circumstance. Murder is legally defined as the act of killing another human being with "malice aforethought", being the intent to kill or inflict bodily injury. Murder can happen as a result of protecting one's own life, and may be argued as self-defense, if the circumstances are applicable.

There are different degrees of murder, and to what constitutes the those degrees varies by state. First Degree Murder is the most serious charge, and is usually assumed it occurred "with intent to kill", or premeditation. This means that it is usually argued that the individual contemplated the act before it occurred, with no restriction on the duration of the thought.

Second degree murder is usually defined as a killing that was intentional, not necessarily premeditated, but also not committed in a "heat of passion". Second degree murder can also include a murder by means of dangerous conduct or a lack of concern for human life.

Voluntary manslaughter is defined as an intentional kill in which the individual did not have any prior intent to kill; such as in the "heat of passion". This circumstance must be one in which a rational person would be driven to become emotional or mentally disturbed.

Murder rate

The rate at which members of a city or state are murdered is referred to as the "murder rate". Cities that demonstrate high annual murder rates can also be plagued by social disorders such as poverty, high drug trafficking and/or use, or gangs. Some cities have instituted laws and structural changes in an attempt to reduce the murder rate, such as increased law enforcement presence, and ban on private weapons possession.

Serial Murderers

Serial killers are murderers that can exhibit patterns in the choice of their victims or by a recurring trait or motive. Some of the most infamous serial killers of the twentieth century include the Zodiac, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and the Son of Sam a.k.a. David Berkowitz.