Third Degree Murder - Law Dictionary Search Results

Home Dictionary Name: third degree murder

third-degree murder

third-degree murder see murder ...

murder [partly from Old English morthor; partly from Old French murdre, of Germanic origin] the crime of unlawfully and unjustifiably killing another under circumstances defined by statute (as with premeditation) ;esp such a crime committed purposely, knowingly, and recklessly with extreme indifference to human life or during the course of a serious felony (as robbery or rape) compare cold blood, cooling time, homicide, manslaughter NOTE: Self-defense, necessity, and lack of capacity for criminal responsibility (as because of insanity) are defenses to a charge of murder. Most state statutes and the U.S. Code divide murder into two degrees. Florida, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania currently have three degrees of murder. Some states do not assign degrees of murder. [di-pr?vd-h rt-] a murder that is the result of an act which is dangerous to others and shows that the perpetrator has a depraved mind and no regard for human life NOTE: Depraved-heart murder is usually considered second- or...

manslaughter

manslaughter : the unlawful killing of a human being without malice compare homicide, murder involuntary manslaughter : manslaughter resulting from the failure to perform a legal duty expressly required to safeguard human life, from the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, or from the commission of a lawful act involving a risk of injury or death that is done in an unlawful, reckless, or grossly negligent manner see also reckless homicide at homicide NOTE: The exact formulation of the elements of involuntary manslaughter vary from state to state esp. with regard to the level of negligence required. In states that grade manslaughter by degrees, involuntary manslaughter is usually graded as a second- or third-degree offense. misdemeanor-manslaughter : involuntary manslaughter occurring during the commission of a misdemeanor compare felony murder at murder voluntary manslaughter : manslaughter resulting from an intentional act done without malice or premeditati...

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