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Speak Up! - View Question #9417 |
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Question: What is third degree murder?
Answer: In Arizona there is no statute describing 3rd degree murder. Instead A.R.S. §§ 13-1102- 1105 describe 1st and 2nd degree murder, negligent homicide, and manslaughter.
A person commits negligent homicide if with criminal negligence the person causes the death of another person, including an unborn child. This person may then be found guilty of a class 4 felony.
A person commits manslaughter by recklessly causing the death of another person, committing second degree murder upon a sudden quarrel or heat of passion resulting from adequate provocation by the victim, intentionally aiding another to commit suicide, or by committing second degree murder while being coerced to do so by the use or threatened immediate use of unlawful deadly physical force upon such person or a third person which a reasonable person in his situation would have been unable to resist. Manslaughter is a class 2 felony.
1st degree murder is usually described as intentional murder or premeditated murder while 2nd degree murder can be described as a killing that resulted from the intent to do serious bodily injury. Both are class 1 felonies.
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