Dictionary of Law
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crime of passion :: legal definition


Crime of passion - n. a defendant's excuse for committing a crime due to sudden anger or heartbreak, in order to eliminate the element of "premeditation." This usually arises in murder or attempted murder cases, when a spouse or sweetheart finds his/her "beloved" having sexual intercourse with another and shoots or stabs one or both of the coupled pair. To make this claim the defendant must have acted immediately upon the rise of passion, without the time for contemplation or allowing for "a cooling of the blood." It is sometimes called the "Law of Texas" since juries in that state are supposedly lenient to cuckolded lovers who wreak their own vengeance. The benefit of eliminating premeditation is to lessen the provable homicide to manslaughter with no death penalty and limited prison terms. An emotionally charged jury may even acquit the impassioned defendant.

See also: manslaughter murder and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
back-to-back life sentences :: n. slang for consecutive life terms imposed by a j ... ther 25 years for a parole hearing.
bail :: 1) n. the money or bond put up to secure the relea ... bond bail bondsman own recognizance
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
challenge :: n. the right of each attorney in a jury trial to r ... ess. See also: peremptory challenge
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
diversion :: n. in criminal procedure, a system for giving a ch ... second offense. See also: probation
first degree murder :: n. although it varies from state to state, it is g ... aughter murder second degree murder
Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing
heat of passion :: n. in a criminal case, when the accused was in an ... oing. See also: manslaughter murder
homicide :: n. the killing of a human being due to the act or ... aughter murder self-defense suicide
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
intoxication :: n. 1) the condition of being drunk as the result o ... r. See also: vehicular manslaughter
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
manslaughter :: n. the unlawful killing of another person without ... laughter. See also: homicide murder
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
own recognizance :: (O.R.) n. the basis for a judge allowing a person ... n recognizance. See also: bail O.R.
peer :: n. an equal. A "jury of one's peers," to which cri ... eria. See also: jury of one's peers
plea bargain :: n. in criminal procedure, a negotiation between th ... the ban. See also: cop a plea plea
preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence
release on one's own recognizance :: v. for a judge to allow a criminal defendant pre-t ... ourtroom slang. See also: bail O.R.
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict
suicide :: n. the intentional killing of oneself. Ironically, ... e manslaughter second degree murder
temporary insanity :: n. in a criminal prosecution, a defense by the acc ... diminished capacity insanity intent
vehicular manslaughter :: n. the crime of causing the death of a human being ... gence manslaughter reckless driving
void for vagueness :: adj. referring to a statute defining a crime which ... o the states by the 14th Amendment.

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - C

C.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.