Depraved Heart Murder Law & Legal Definition
This is a murder resulting from an act of reckless disregard for the safety of others. The action demonstrates a "callous disregard for human life" and results in death. If no death results such acts would generally be defined as reckless endangerment or possibly other crimes, such as assault. In most of the US states, depraved heart killings constitute second-degree murder.
Examples of depraved heart murder:
- Shooting a gun at a passenger train.
- Shooting a loaded gun to scare
- Killing someone while driving drunk
- Piloting a motorboat at high speed through a crowded swimming area on a lake.
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