Aggravated Rape Law and Legal Definition
An aggravated rape is an offense of rape that is committed under circumstances which render the offense more heinous. The severity of the crime may be increased because of factors such as tender age of the victim, blood relationship between the accused and the victim, the victim is aged, the offender is armed with a weapon, , and more than one offender rapes the victim. The exact definition of the term varies from state to state and from nation to nation. An aggravated rape is different from a forcible rape.
Rape which occurs during commission of specified crimes, such as assault and battery by means of dangerous weapon, constitutes aggravated rape, punishable by harsher penalties than simple rape. [Commonwealth v. Williams (1987) 23 Mass App 716, 505 NE2d 233, 1987 Mass App LEXIS 1786].
