murder one
First-degree killing
Murder one is informal legal shorthand for first-degree murder—the most serious homicide charge, requiring premeditation or special circumstances.
The distinction matters because murder one carries the harshest penalties, often life imprisonment or death.
The DA is going for murder one.
Murder two (second-degree) lacks the premeditation element.
Crime punishable by execution
- felonySerious criminal offense
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defendant · guilty · plea · culpability · criminal charge · capital crime · criminal complaint
Prior intent to harm
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
- intentionalDone on purpose
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
premeditated · planned · conspiracy · plotting · scheming · forethought · orchestrated · predetermined
Judicial proceedings chamber
- juryLegal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- prosecutorGovernment's trial lawyer
- defense attorneyLawyer representing the accused
judge · evidence · testimony · witness · cross-examination · deliberation · acquittal · conviction
capital offense
Crime punishable by execution
- felonySerious criminal offense
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
prosecution · defendant · guilty · plea · culpability · criminal charge · capital crime · criminal complaint
malice aforethought
Prior intent to harm
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
- intentionalDone on purpose
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
cold-blooded · premeditated · planned · conspiracy · plotting · scheming · forethought · orchestrated · predetermined · willful
courtroom
Judicial proceedings chamber
- juryLegal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- prosecutorGovernment's trial lawyer
defense attorney · judge · evidence · testimony · witness · cross-examination · deliberation · acquittal · conviction · jury selection
heinous
Odiously, shockingly evil
- atrociousAppallingly, shockingly wicked
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
cruel · monstrous · barbaric · savage · merciless · gruesome · unforgivable · egregious · aggravated · depraved
murder onemanslaughter
Unlawful killing without forethought
involuntary manslaughter · voluntary manslaughter · vehicular manslaughter · negligent homicide · second-degree murder
murder onejustifiable homicide
Legally sanctioned taking of life
self-defense · capital punishment · euthanasia · assisted suicide
murder oneaccidental death
Unintentional fatal outcome
accidental killing · death by misadventure · act of God · natural causes · crime of passion
murder, one, murders, murdered, murdering, murderer, murderers, murderous, murderously