malice aforethought | Definition

Doc's CJ Glossary by Adam J. McKee
Course: Introduction / Criminal Law

Malice aforethought means a deliberate, premeditated intent to cause criminal harm; an element of common law murder.


Malice aforethought is a term used in criminal law to refer to the mental state of a defendant in a homicide case. Specifically, it is a state of mind that involves a deliberate and premeditated intent to cause the death of another person or serious bodily harm. The concept of malice aforethought has been an important element of the common law crime of murder, which is defined as the intentional killing of another person with malice aforethought.

In order to establish the presence of malice aforethought, prosecutors must show that the defendant acted with a deliberate and premeditated intent to cause the death of another person. This requires evidence that the defendant had a conscious plan or purpose to commit the homicide and that this plan was formulated in advance of the actual killing. Common examples of evidence that may be used to establish malice aforethought include the use of a deadly weapon, the manner in which the homicide was carried out, and any statements or actions made by the defendant before or after the killing.

The Model Penal Code (MPC), which is a set of criminal laws and procedures developed by the American Law Institute, defines four levels of culpability for criminal offenses. These levels of culpability are purpose, knowledge, recklessness, and negligence. Malice aforethought falls under the category of purpose, which is the highest level of culpability.

According to the MPC, a person acts purposely when it is their conscious objective to engage in conduct or cause a result. In the context of a homicide case, this means that the defendant had a specific intent to cause the death of another person. This intention must have been formed prior to the killing and must have been a conscious decision made by the defendant.

In addition to murder, the concept of malice aforethought can also be relevant in other criminal offenses, such as assault and battery. In these cases, malice aforethought may be used to show that the defendant had a specific intent to cause harm to the victim and that this intent was formed prior to the commission of the offense.

Malice aforethought is a mental state that involves a deliberate and premeditated intent to cause criminal harm. It is an element of common law murder and is used to establish the highest level of culpability in criminal offenses. In order to prove the presence of malice aforethought, prosecutors must show that the defendant acted with a specific intention to cause harm, and that this intention was formed prior to the commission of the offense.


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Last Modified: 04/09/2023

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