Murder

Murder is morally defined as the deliberate act of ending another living being's life, although the legal definition of murder may vary by type depending on the circumstance. Murder is legally defined as the act of killing another human being with "malice aforethought", being the intent to kill or inflict bodily injury. Murder can happen as a result of protecting one's own life, and may be argued as self-defense, if the circumstances are applicable.

There are different degrees of murder, and to what constitutes the those degrees varies by state. First Degree Murder is the most serious charge, and is usually assumed it occurred "with intent to kill", or premeditation. This means that it is usually argued that the individual contemplated the act before it occurred, with no restriction on the duration of the thought.

Second degree murder is usually defined as a killing that was intentional, not necessarily premeditated, but also not committed in a "heat of passion". Second degree murder can also include a murder by means of dangerous conduct or a lack of concern for human life.

Voluntary manslaughter is defined as an intentional kill in which the individual did not have any prior intent to kill; such as in the "heat of passion". This circumstance must be one in which a rational person would be driven to become emotional or mentally disturbed.