"Under New York criminal law, murder in the first degree is one of several forms of homicide, or conduct which causes the death of a person. Other forms of homicide include second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and abortion. Intentional murder is elevated to first-degree murder when, with the intent to cause the death of another person, a defendant causes the death of such person or a third person and any one of twelve aggravating factors is present. A person charged with first-degree murder must be more than 18 years old at the time of commission of the crime.
"The aforementioned aggravating factors focus on the identity of the intended victim (police officers, certain peace officers, correctional employees, judges, witnesses), the circumstances in which the murder was committed (while the defendant was serving a life sentence, during the commission of a specified felony ("felony murder"), for hire, accompanied by torture, in furtherance of a terrorist act), or the nature of the killing(s). Applying the definition of first-degree murder to the first of these factors, it follows that a defendant whose intended victim is a police officer engaged in the course of his or her official duties will be guilty of first-degree murder if the defendant kills a civilian bystander instead. However, a defendant who intends to kill a civilian is not guilty of first-degree murder if he or she instead accidentally kills a police officer."
"Ceterum censeo Hillary esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
If this was 2nd degree, can I get an example of 1st degree?