Question

homicide cases
read each of the following situations carefully. for each one, be sure to:
a. determine who can be charged with homicide or if it is non - criminal
b. if you are going to charge them, what degree of homicide should they be charged with
c. most importantly - give your reasons!!!

1. john blames walt, his financial advisor, for losing all of his money during the most recent

recession. john drives to walt’s office and shoots him five times, killing him instantly.

Explanation:

1. Who can be charged: John is the clear perpetrator as he intentionally shot Walt.
2. Degree of homicide: This is first-degree murder. John acted with premeditation—he planned the act by driving to Walt's office, and he had the intent to kill when he shot Walt five times, resulting in an immediate death. First-degree murder applies to intentional, premeditated killings.
3. Reasons: The killing was not accidental; John made a deliberate choice to confront and kill Walt out of anger over his lost money, demonstrating premeditation and express intent to cause death.

Answer:

a. John can be charged with homicide.
b. John should be charged with first-degree murder.
c. John acted with premeditation (drove to Walt's office to confront him) and had clear intent to kill, as shown by shooting Walt five times, which resulted in immediate death. This fits the criteria for first-degree murder, a homicide charge for intentional, premeditated killings.