first-degree murder
Planned lethal crime
First-degree murder is the most serious homicide charge, requiring premeditation and deliberate intent to kill.
The killer planned the act beforehand rather than acting in the heat of the moment.
Some jurisdictions also classify certain killings as first-degree murder regardless of premeditation—murders committed during felonies like robbery or rape, or murders of law enforcement officers.
He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.
Causing another's death
- capital offenseCrime punishable by execution
- felonySerious criminal offense
- malice aforethoughtPrior intent to harm
- mens reaBlameworthy mental state
prosecution · defendant · trial · jury · verdict · conviction · indictment · arraignment
Consciously chosen, not accidental
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- aforethoughtPrior deliberate intention
- planningArranging for future events
conspiracy · targeted · premeditated · intentional · willful · malicious · scheming · forethought
Planned purpose
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- premeditationAdvance planning of action
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- unlawful killingDeath by illegal means
criminal act · culpability · motive · opportunity · means · deadly weapon · victim · cause of death
Imprisonment without release
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
- death rowHousing for condemned prisoners
- lethal injectionCapital punishment by needle
- executionCompleting a planned task
penitentiary · maximum security · parole · clemency · conviction · sentencing · prison · capital punishment
homicide
Causing another's death
- capital offenseCrime punishable by execution
- felonySerious criminal offense
- malice aforethoughtPrior intent to harm
mens rea · prosecution · defendant · trial · jury · verdict · conviction · indictment · arraignment · plea
deliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- aforethoughtPrior deliberate intention
planning · conspiracy · targeted · premeditated · intentional · willful · malicious · scheming · forethought · stalking
intent
Planned purpose
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- premeditationAdvance planning of action
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
unlawful killing · criminal act · culpability · motive · opportunity · means · deadly weapon · victim · cause of death · forensic evidence
life sentence
Imprisonment without release
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
- death rowHousing for condemned prisoners
- lethal injectionCapital punishment by needle
execution · penitentiary · maximum security · parole · clemency · conviction · sentencing · prison · capital punishment · electric chair
- homicide lawhomicide, manslaughter, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, justifiable homicide
- capital crimestreason, high treason, terrorism, assassination, contract killing
- killingshomicide, manslaughter, killing, assassination, voluntary manslaughter
first-degree murderaccidental death
Unintentional fatal outcome
accident · involuntary manslaughter · negligent homicide · death by misadventure · vehicular manslaughter
first-degree murderinvoluntary manslaughter
Unintentional unlawful killing
manslaughter · justifiable homicide · self-defense killing · voluntary manslaughter · acquittal
first-degree murderlifesaving
Preserving human existence
organ donation · life preservation · medical intervention · mercy · protection
first, degree, murder, firsts, degrees, murders, murdered, murdering, murderer