Criminal Law Flashcards
What is homicide? What are the two types?
Unlawful taking of the life of another.
- Murder
- Manslaughter
What is murder?
Unlawful killing of another person with malice aforethought.
How is malice established?
- Intent to kill (can be inferred from deadly weapon)
- Intent to cause substantial bodily injury
- Reckless indifference to human life (“depraved heart” murder)
- Intent to commit dangerous felony
What are inherently dangerous felonies?
BARK Burglary Arson Rape Robbery Kidnapping
What is the felony murder rule?
Intent to commit dangerous felony that results in death during commission of felony will supply malice necessary for murder.
Is a defendant liable for the death of a co-felon in the commission of a dangerous felony?
No.
Is a defendant liable for the death of a bystander if a nonfelon (cop, bystander, etc) kills them?
No.
Can intent transfer in murder?
Yes
What are the two types of manslaughter?
Voluntary and involuntary
What are the two types of voluntary manslaughter?
Heat of passion and imperfect self-defense
What is heat of passion manslaughter?
Murder can be reduced to voluntary manslaughter if D acted in heat of passion and:
- He was reasonably provoked (reasonable person would lose control)
- No cooling off time
What is imperfect self-defense?
Murder can be reduced to voluntary manslaughter if
- D makes UNREASONABLE mistake about need for self-defense, or
- D started the altercation
How can someone be eligible for involuntary manslaughter?
- Gross negligence (disregard of substantial danger of bodily harm/death)
- Misdemeanor-manslaughter - commits misdemeanor and death accidentally occurs
What are the statutory murders?
1st and 2nd degree
What is 1st degree murder?
- Premeditation and deliberation (only requires a moment), acted in cool/dispassionate manner
- Dangerous felony murder (BAARK)
What is 2nd degree murder?
If murder isn’t 1st degree, but doesn’t qualify for manslaughter.
What are the inchoate crimes?
Solicitation, conspiracy, attempt.
What is solicitation?
If one requests/encourages another to commit a crime with intent that person commit crime (whether or not they agree)
What is conspiracy?
Agreement between 2 or more persons who intent to commit crime.
Can agreement for conspiracy be implied?
Yes.
Is knowledge of a conspiracy sufficient to establish intent?
No.
Is an overt act required to create a conspiracy?
At common law, no. It was completed when agreement made.
Majority of jurisdictions now require it, however.