Murder is the act of killing someone with malice aforethought or premeditation. It is the most serious of all crimes in common-law systems, and it carries the most severe punishment. In many states, murder is divided into degrees, with capital murder and first-degree murder being the most heinous. Other states don’t use degrees; they instead have a range of possible offenses that fall under “murder.”
A murder investigation usually starts with police examining the scene of the crime. They take pictures, interview witnesses, and gather other evidence. This information is then analyzed by a team of detectives who piece together the events leading up to the murder. The goal is to find the person or persons who committed the murder.
The most common motives for murder are a grudge between people, domestic violence, and alcohol. In fact, more than half of all homicides are caused by drinking and driving. People who are mentally ill or on drugs are more likely to commit murder than those who are not. Studies show that people who were abused as children, especially physically, are more likely to kill later in life. These people also more often kill those they know and may demonstrate extreme methods of killing, such as binding and mutilating the victim.
The legal system examines the offender’s state of mind (called mens rea) to determine the level of guilt and a proper punishment. For example, if two family members get into a heated argument that turns deadly, the father may be charged with manslaughter rather than murder because the situation did not involve premeditation.
About the Author
