malice aforethought

malice aforethought. The requisite mental state for common-law murder, encompassing any one of the following: (1) the intent to kill, (2) the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, (3) extremely reckless indifference to the value of human life (the so-called abandoned and malignant heart), or (4) the intent to commit a dangerous felony (which leads to culpability under the felony-murder rule).

— Also termed premeditated malice; preconceived malice; malice prepense; malitia praecogitata. [Cases: Homicide 529, 541, 546.]

“Malice aforethought is the term which came into use during medieval times to indicate the mental element necessary in the felony of murder. It has been the subject of voluminous jurisprudential enquiry ….” J.W. Cecil Turner, Kenny’s Outlines of Criminal Law 27 (16th ed. 1952).

“Every intentional killing is with malice aforethought unless under circumstances sufficient to constitute (1) justification, (2) excuse, or (3) mitigation.” Rollin M. Perkins & Ronald N. Boyce, Criminal Law 58 (3d ed. 1982).

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词条贡献者

资深译员Dan，毕业于美国顶尖的高级翻译学院，专注翻译各种与消费者集团诉讼有关的法律文件。