Homework answers / question archive / What is Criminal Homicide?103 week 10 Assignment Chapter 9 Assignment Chapter 9 Homicide is defined as the killing of one human being by another

What is Criminal Homicide?103 week 10 Assignment Chapter 9 Assignment Chapter 9 Homicide is defined as the killing of one human being by another

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What is Criminal Homicide?103 week 10 Assignment Chapter 9 Assignment Chapter 9 Homicide is defined as the killing of one human being by another. Criminal Homicide is different from other crimes we study because of the finality of the result: the death of the victim. In addition, we can learn a lot about the different mental states when we study criminal homicide. The law of criminal homicide attempts to answer the following questions: Is it first degree or second degree murder? Is it murder or manslaughter? Is it voluntary or involuntary manslaughter? Why does it matter how the questions above are answered? It matters because the penalty is different depending on what type of criminal homicide was committed. The actus reus, mens rea, and the circumstance elements affect the punishment.  An example is that in first degree murder you can get the death penalty in states that have the death penalty or a life sentence without parole in non-death penalty states. 

 

1. Look up Massachusetts law and cite any Massachusetts statutes that address whether words can serve as adequate provocation in a manslaughter case.  Should words be able to serve as adequate provocation to reduce murder to manslaughter?

2. Discuss the common law rules of homicide.

 

3. Compare and contrast voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.

 

4. Discuss current law of the actus reus and mens rea of murder. Please give examples.

 

5. Most states today have four main types of criminal homicide. Define and discuss these and provide examples of each.