Second Degree Murder Case Study

Decent Essays
The crime of murder is considered the highest felony crime that one can commit. State laws typically have varying degrees of murder, to include first and second degree murder. The various degrees of murder have been established to differentiate between murders of passion or premeditated murders and the courts view premeditated murders more serious than those committed out of passion.
First degree murders typically include some form of planning or intent of killing before the killer actually kills. Acts of torture, poising, and terrorism are excellent examples of a first degree murder charge. These acts are all done deliberately, willfully, and with extensive planning (Hall, 2015).
Second degree murder differs from first degree murder when

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