Home›Landmark Cases›Offense Involved›MurderOffenseMurderActs Leading to or Intending DeathReference and ClassificationDevelopingMurder is the unlawful killing of another person committed with malice aforethought, the culpable mental state, generally an intent to kill or to cause grievous bodily harm, or a reckless indifference to human life, that separates it from the lesser homicide offense of manslaughter. Most common-law and civil-law jurisdictions further divide murder into degrees or equivalent gradations, typically distinguishing a premeditated, deliberate killing from one committed impulsively but still with the required intent, with the most severe gradation generally carrying the harshest sentence a jurisdiction imposes, including, where retained, capital punishment or life imprisonment. Many jurisdictions also recognize a felony-murder rule, under which a death occurring during the commission of certain other serious felonies, such as robbery or arson, can be charged as murder even absent a specific intent to kill, a doctrine that remains a significant point of comparative and reform debate in criminal law. Murder is among the most extensively studied offenses in criminology, both for what its patterns reveal about interpersonal and social violence and because its investigation historically drove the development of forensic techniques such as fingerprint identification, forensic pathology and DNA profiling.FactsMurderFAQsConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsClassification CodeWell-attestedCommon law jurisdictions typically classify murder by degree: second-degree murder corresponds to the traditional common law definition, while first-degree murder is an aggravated form requiring factors such as premeditation, deliberation or a specific intent to kill. 2Typical PenaltyWell-attestedPremeditated murder is treated as one of the most serious homicide categories and is punished more severely than manslaughter, commonly with a life sentence without parole or, in some countries, the death penalty. 2Elements of OffenseWell-attestedAt common law, murder is the unlawful killing of a reasonable creature in being, under the king's peace, committed with malice aforethought, meaning a deliberate intent to kill or an equivalent state of extreme culpability, either express or implied. 2Notable ExampleWell-attestedA well documented example of the diminished-capacity defense reducing a murder charge to manslaughter is the 1978 killing of San Francisco mayor George Moscone and city supervisor Harvey Milk by Dan White, whose successful diminished-capacity defense at trial became known as the Twinkie defense and led California to abolish that defense afterward. 2Jurisdiction VariationWell-attestedJurisdictions differ sharply on how they subdivide murder: the Netherlands and Canada draw the murder and manslaughter line purely on premeditation, some United States states add a third degree of murder defined differently state to state, and English law imposes a single mandatory life sentence for murder with no formal division into degrees at all. 2ClassificationOffense GradeWell-attestedSerious or Indictable Offense 1MurderFilter Results17 entriesCase EraAll1888 (1)1892 (1)1910 (1)1932 (1)1968 (1)1978 (1)1981 (1)1984 (1)1988 (1)1993 (1)1994 (1)1996 (1)2001 (1)2002 (1)2005 (1)2007 (1)2018 (1)Case StatusAllUnsolved (2)Investigating InstitutionAllBuenos Aires Provincial Police (1)Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (1)Federal Bureau of Investigation (5)King County Sheriff's Office (1)Leicestershire Constabulary (1)Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (1)Los Angeles Police Department (2)Metropolitan Police Service (2)Polizia di Stato (1)San Francisco Police Department (1)United States Marshals Service (1)West Memphis Police Department (1)Wichita Police Department (1)Concept IllustratedAllChain of Custody (1)Cold Case (4)Criminal Profiling (1)Satanic Panic (1)Wrongful Conviction (2)Location or JurisdictionAllAtlanta, Georgia, United States (1)California, United States (1)King County, Washington, United States (1)Leicestershire, England (1)London, England, and the North Atlantic (1)Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, United States (1)Los Angeles, California, United States (1)Necochea, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (1)New Jersey, United States (1)Perugia, Italy (1)San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States (1)United States (multiple states) (1)West Memphis, Arkansas, United States (1)Whitechapel and Spitalfields, London, England (1)Wichita, Kansas, United States (1)Group TreeAllContested Confessions and Convictions (1)DNA Identification Cases (3)Documentary and Digital Evidence Cases (2)Fingerprint Evidence Cases (2)Modern High-Profile Murder Prosecutions (2)Trace and Physical Evidence Cases (3)Unsolved Serial Murder Investigations (2)Forensic Discipline UsedAllCriminalistics (2)Dactyloscopy (2)Digital Forensics (1)DNA Profiling (6)Forensic Ballistics (1)Forensic Document Examination (2)Forensic Linguistics (1)Forensic Odontology (1)Forensic Toxicology (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 17Amanda Knox CaseMurderAtlanta Murders of 1979 to 1981MurderBeltway Snipers CaseMurderBTK CaseMurderColin Pitchfork CaseMurderCrippen CaseMurderFrancisca Rojas CaseMurderGolden State Killer CaseMurderGreen River Killer CaseMurderJack the Ripper MurdersMurderLindbergh KidnappingMurderNight Stalker CaseMurderO. J. Simpson Murder CaseMurderTed Bundy CaseMurderUnabomber CaseMurderWest Memphis Three CaseMurderZodiac Killer CaseMurderFAQsWhat is the difference between first-degree and second-degree murder?First-degree murder is generally an aggravated form of the common law offense that second-degree murder represents.In jurisdictions that divide murder into degrees, second-degree murder is generally common law murder, and first-degree murder is an aggravated form of it. Not every legal system uses degrees: under English criminal law, murder always carries a mandatory life sentence and is not classified into degrees.ConnectionsAssociated WithHate Crime, Foundational Concepts Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Hate Crimetier 3Manslaughter, Offenses Well-attested Source Cornell LII Wex: Manslaughtertier 1Exemplified By CasesAmanda Knox Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested The case is the trial arising from the murder of Meredith Kercher, per the cited article's own title.Source Wikipedia: Murder of Meredith Kerchertier 3Atlanta Murders of 1979 to 1981, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Atlanta Child Murderstier 3Beltway Snipers Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: D.C. Sniper Attackstier 3BTK Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Dennis Radertier 3Colin Pitchfork Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Colin Pitchforktier 3Crippen Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Hawley Harvey Crippentier 3Francisca Rojas Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Francisca Rojastier 3Golden State Killer Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Joseph James DeAngelotier 3Green River Killer Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Gary Ridgwaytier 3Jack the Ripper Murders, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Jack the Rippertier 3Lindbergh Kidnapping, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Lindbergh Kidnappingtier 3Night Stalker Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Richard Ramireztier 3O. J. Simpson Murder Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: O. J. Simpson murder casetier 3Ted Bundy Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Ted Bundytier 3Unabomber Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Ted Kaczynskitier 3West Memphis Three Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: West Memphis Threetier 3Zodiac Killer Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Zodiac Killertier 3Has Offense GradeIndictable Offence, Foundational Concepts Well-attested In the Other AtlasesFound InEuropeAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.North AmericaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Sources1. Wikipedia: MurderMurder is universally classed as a serious indictable felonyView the Source2. Murder (Wikipedia)tier 2Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder, lead paragraphMurder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse and committed with the necessary intent as defined by the law in a specific jurisdiction.Degrees sectionGenerally, second-degree murder is common law murder, and first-degree is an aggravated form.Degrees section, premeditated murder passagePremeditated murder is one of the most serious forms of homicide, and is punished more severely than manslaughter or other types of homicide, often with a life sentence without the possibility of parole, or in some countries, the death penalty.Definition section, Blackstones common law formulaunlawfully kills any reasonable creature in being and under the king's peace, with malice aforethought, either express or implied.Mitigating circumstances section, Diminished capacity subsectionDan White used this defense to obtain a manslaughter conviction, instead of murder, in the assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.Aggravating circumstances section, closing linesUnder English criminal law, murder always carries a mandatory life sentence, but is not classified into degrees.View the SourceWikipedia: Murder of Meredith Kerchertier 3Exemplified By Cases: Amanda Knox Case, Page titleQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Amanda Knox Case, Page titleMurder of Meredith KercherView the SourceWikipedia: Atlanta Child Murderstier 3Exemplified By Cases: Atlanta Murders of 1979 to 1981, Lead section, opening paragraphQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Atlanta Murders of 1979 to 1981, Lead section, opening paragraphOver the two-year period, at least 28 African-American children, adolescents, and adults were killed.View the SourceWikipedia: D.C. Sniper Attackstier 3Exemplified By Cases: Beltway Snipers Case, Lead sectionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Beltway Snipers Case, Lead sectionIn total, the snipers killed 15 people and wounded 8 others in a 10-month span.View the SourceWikipedia: Dennis Radertier 3Exemplified By Cases: BTK Case, Lead sectionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: BTK Case, Lead sectionis an American serial killer and mass murderer who killed at least ten people in Wichita and Park City, Kansas, between 1974 and 1991.View the SourceWikipedia: Colin Pitchforktier 3Exemplified By Cases: Colin Pitchfork Case, Lead sectionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Colin Pitchfork Case, Lead sectionHe was the first person convicted of rape and murder using DNA profiling after he murdered two girls in neighbouring Leicestershire villages.View the SourceWikipedia: Hawley Harvey Crippentier 3Exemplified By Cases: Crippen Case, Transatlantic arrest section, Kendall telegramQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Crippen Case, Transatlantic arrest section, Kendall telegramHave strong suspicions that Crippen London cellar murderer and accomplice are among saloon passengers.View the SourceWikipedia: Francisca Rojastier 3Exemplified By Cases: Francisca Rojas Case, Short descriptionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Francisca Rojas Case, Short descriptionArgentine murderer; first person found guilty using fingerprintsView the SourceWikipedia: Joseph James DeAngelotier 3Exemplified By Cases: Golden State Killer Case, Opening paragraphQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Golden State Killer Case, Opening paragraphOn April 24, 2018, California authorities charged 72-year-old DeAngelo with eight counts of first-degree murderView the SourceWikipedia: Gary Ridgwaytier 3Exemplified By Cases: Green River Killer Case, Investigation sectionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Green River Killer Case, Investigation sectionLater advances in DNA profiling allowed investigators to definitively link Ridgway to the murders, and he was arrested on November 30, 2001.View the SourceWikipedia: Jack the Rippertier 3Exemplified By Cases: Jack the Ripper Murders, Lead section, opening paragraphQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Jack the Ripper Murders, Lead section, opening paragraphTheir throats were cut prior to abdominal mutilations. The removal of internal organs from at least three of the victims led to speculation that the killer had some anatomical or surgical knowledge.View the SourceWikipedia: Lindbergh Kidnappingtier 3Exemplified By Cases: Lindbergh Kidnapping, Lead section, opening paragraphQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Lindbergh Kidnapping, Lead section, opening paragraphCharles Augustus Lindbergh Jr. (born June 22, 1930), the 20-month-old son of Col. Charles Lindbergh and his wife, aviator and author Anne Morrow Lindbergh, was murdered after being abducted.View the SourceWikipedia: Richard Ramireztier 3Exemplified By Cases: Night Stalker Case, IntroductionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Night Stalker Case, IntroductionFrom April 1984 to August 1985, Ramirez murdered at least fifteen people during various break-insView the SourceWikipedia: O. J. Simpson murder casetier 3Exemplified By Cases: O. J. Simpson Murder Case, Trial sectionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: O. J. Simpson Murder Case, Trial sectionThe murders occurred on June 12, 1994, with the criminal trial spanning from January 24 to October 3, 1995View the SourceWikipedia: Ted Bundytier 3Exemplified By Cases: Ted Bundy Case, Lead sectionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Ted Bundy Case, Lead sectionwas an American serial killer who kidnapped, raped and murdered dozens of young women and girls between 1974 and 1978View the SourceWikipedia: Ted Kaczynskitier 3Exemplified By Cases: Unabomber Case, Lead section, second paragraphQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Unabomber Case, Lead section, second paragraphKaczynski murdered 3 people and injured 23 others between 1978 and 1995 in a nationwide mail bombing campaign against people he believed to be advancing modern technology and the destruction of the natural environment.View the SourceWikipedia: West Memphis Threetier 3Exemplified By Cases: West Memphis Three Case, Documentaries sectionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: West Memphis Three Case, Documentaries sectionParadise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, and Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky.View the SourceWikipedia: Zodiac Killertier 3Exemplified By Cases: Zodiac Killer Case, Lead sectionQuote, Exemplified By Cases: Zodiac Killer Case, Lead sectionmurdered at least five people in the San Francisco Bay Area between December 1968 and October 1969View the SourceCornell LII Wex: Manslaughtertier 1Associated With: Manslaughter, Main sectionQuote, Associated With: Manslaughter, Main sectionManslaughter is the act of killing another human being without malice. It is a general intent crime that is distinct from murder because it requires less culpability.View the SourceWikipedia: Hate Crimetier 3Associated With: Hate Crime, Lead sectionQuote, Associated With: Hate Crime, Lead sectionA hate crime is a standard offence (such as assault or murder) with an added element of bias against a victim because of their physical appearance or perceived membership of a certain social group.View the SourceLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School: Murder (Wex Legal Dictionary)Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law SchoolIn Group: Homicide, Murder and Planned Killing, Wex definitionQuote, In Group: Homicide, Murder and Planned Killing, Wex definitionMurder is when a person unlawfully kills another person.View the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.