Murder is an unlawful act that destroys the lives of everyone who is directly or indirectly involved with the event. We have discussed here the different degrees of murders- its definition, examples, and punishments in brief. Let’s have a thorough read of the article.
What are the degrees of murder?
There are three degrees of murders. It varies according to situation, intentions, and planning.
First-degree Murder
According to the Canadian criminal code, 1st-degree murder is described as when someone willfully tries to kill someone. And as a result, eventually, the victim dies on the spot or after some days. It is carried out with a complete evidence strategy so that the target has no chance of survival in the future.
To assassinate someone requires a great deal of bravery and justification. A normal person with no mental illness would never consider committing such a heinous crime.
Moreover, nobody has the right to take away someone’s life even if he or she has strong reasons. Because when someone is killed, the victim’s dependents will also face devastating results.
A first-degree murder should fulfill these criteria-
- Pre-decided and intentional.
- Giving money to a contract killer to do the crime on behalf of someone.
- Making sure that the victim surely dies.
- Having solid reasons to commit the crime.
Example of first-degree murder
A man, roughly 23 years old, was shot and killed in Toronto in May 2020. This offense, according to the police, was committed by a 17-year-old boy, a minor. After that, the injured man was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where he eventually died.
Another incident happened in Peterborough. In Peterborough, a man was killed by injecting the drug in March 2020. He died from the overdosage of the drug. According to the police, the perpetrator was an 18-year-old woman. She was just 17 years old at the time. It was, nonetheless, a well-thought-out assault.
Punishment for first-degree murder
There is no law for death sentences in this kind of crime. In general, an adult criminal will receive 25 years of imprisonment. A minor, age 16-17, will receive only 10 years of imprisonment. A lesser aged individual, 14-15 will receive 5 to 7 years of imprisonment. In special consideration and situation, the punishment could be lessened.
Second-degree Murder
A Second-degree assassination includes all other types of killings. The intent is one of the most important considerations here. It is a 2nd-degree murder if the perpetrator had no intention of killing the victim.
In second-degree murder, the killer typically has a personal reason for hurting the victim, such as a fight or quarrel. As a consequence, the person’s death is completely unintentional. Although, proving such an offense as a second-degree murder is very tough.
Example of second-degree murder
Just think, you are having a heated argument with a person on a topic and in the heat of the moment, you became so enraged that you shattered a wine bottle on his head, completely unaware of what might happen to the victim. Although it appeared to be an ordinary situation, due to internal bleeding, the person died on the spot.
Punishment for second-degree murder
There is no rule for imposing a death sentence here. In general, the jury would impose a minimum sentence of ten years in jail. In different states, the punishment duration can be different.
In the Canadian justice system, this would result in a sentence of up to 25 years in jail. Second-degree killers, on the other hand, will be up for ten years of imprisonment. There have been several occasions where a murderer was released from jail after serving ten years and was placed on parole for the next several years.
Third-degree Murder
Third-degree murder is defined as murdering someone else without intending to kill them. For instance, suppose you were in a fight and suddenly struck the other man. He died as a result of the hit. You, on the other hand, had no chance of shooting him. The crime is known as a third-degree homicide. As a result, this offense is defined as the unintentional death of another person.
Example of third-degree murder
Suppose that three people are involved in drug dealing. During the night, one of his associates died as a result of a heroin overdose. Yes, it would be called homicide in the third degree. However, the seller could be unaware of the man who died as a result of a drug overdose. However, the seller will be charged with third-degree murder.
Punishment for third-degree murder
If someone is charged with or convicted of third degree murder and if he has no prior criminal history, he would be sentenced to 8 to 10 years in jail. However, if he has any previous criminal history, he will face a sentence of 25 to 27 years in jail under Canadian law.
Conclusion
A murder is a crime that destroys not only one life. It destroys both the victim and the criminal, their family, and their surroundings. Nobody has the right to take someone’s life, even if they have reasons. It is up to the honorable. Respect the law of your country.