Aggravating Circumstance
Legal definition for Indian law research
Definition
aggravating circumstance
: a circumstance relating to the commission of an act that increases the degree of liability or culpability [punitive damages are recoverable in a conversion case when the evidence shows legal malice, willfulness, insult, or other aggravating circumstances "Schwertfeger v. Moorehouse, 569 So. 2d 322 (1990)"]
;also
: a circumstance (as lack of remorse) relating to an offense or defendant that receives consideration by the court esp. in imposing a death sentence compare mitigating circumstance
Definitions are for legal research. Always verify meaning in the context of the statute, judgment, or jurisdiction cited.