Dictionary of Law
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heat of passion :: legal definition


Heat of passion - n. in a criminal case, when the accused was in an uncontrollable rage at the time of commission of the alleged crime. If so, it may reduce the charge, indictment or judgment down from murder to manslaughter, since the passion precluded the defendant having premeditation or being fully mentally capable of knowing what he/she was doing.

See also: manslaughter murder and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

crime of passion :: n. a defendant's excuse for committing a crime due ... dant. See also: manslaughter murder
first degree murder :: n. although it varies from state to state, it is g ... aughter murder second degree murder
homicide :: n. the killing of a human being due to the act or ... aughter murder self-defense suicide
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
suicide :: n. the intentional killing of oneself. Ironically, ... e manslaughter second degree murder

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headnote :: n. the summary of the key legal points determined ... not the court's. See also: reports
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial
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heir apparent :: n. the person who is expected to receive a share o ... isinherited by will. See also: heir
heiress :: n. feminine heir, often used to denote a woman who ... in the "department store heiress."
heirs of the body :: n. descendants of one's bloodline, such as childre ... nal owner. See also: heir reversion
held :: v. decided or ruled, as "the court held that the c ... See also: decision judgment ruling
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