first degree murder
Planned fatal crime
First degree murder is the most serious category of unlawful killing, requiring premeditation and deliberate intent.
The perpetrator planned the killing in advance rather than acting in the heat of the moment: He was convicted of first degree murder after evidence showed he'd stalked the victim for weeks.
Contrast with second degree murder, which lacks premeditation, and manslaughter, which lacks intent to kill.
Legal definitions vary by jurisdiction.
- homicideCausing another's death
- premeditatedPlanned before acting
- intentPlanned purpose
- felonySerious criminal offense
- capital offenseCrime punishable by execution
capital · conviction · defendant · prosecutor · verdict · malice · aforethought · crime of passion · sentencing · life sentence · life · prison · death row · death penalty · electric chair · trial · jury · victim
- killingshomicide, manslaughter, killing, assassination, voluntary manslaughter
- verdictsguilty verdict, guilty, not guilty, acquitted, innocent
first degree murderaccidental death
Unintentional fatal outcome
manslaughter · involuntary manslaughter · negligent homicide · vehicular manslaughter · accidental killing
first degree murderjustifiable homicide
Legally sanctioned taking of life
self-defense killing · innocence · accidental death · natural causes · act of God
first degree murderlifesaving
Preserving human existence
rescue · preservation of life · resuscitation · protection · healing
first, degree, murder, firsts, degrees, murders, murdered, murdering, murderer