Читать книгу Criminology For Dummies - Steven Briggs - Страница 85

Murder is a type of homicide that most states once defined as the killing of another human being with “malice aforethought.” Because that’s such a tough phrase to crack, many states have nixed it from their laws. Hence, murder is now more commonly defined as the intentional killing of another human being.

Some states require proof of premeditation or deliberation to convict someone of murder. Premeditation means that the killer not only intended to kill the victim, but also made a cool-headed, thoughtful decision to do so. A typical sentence for murder may be anywhere from 20 years to life in prison.

Although the word murder is more specific than homicide, it often isn’t specific enough for today’s criminal justice system. Thus, you hear terms like first-degree murder and capital murder. Keep reading to find out how the law distinguishes between the different types of murder.