Crime Of Passion Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Crime Of Passion, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Crime Of Passion?

It is a term used to define a crime which is commited by an individual in the form of assault or murder against a spouse or a lover out of jealousy or heratbreak and is not a preplanned crime.Example- when a husband discovers his wife is having affair with another man out of jealousy he can murder her.Crime of passion is used as a measure by the defending attorney to request the judge to have a leninet approach in pronouncing the verdict.

History and Meaning of Crime of Passion

The term "crime of passion" refers to a crime committed by an individual against their spouse or lover out of sudden strong emotion, such as jealousy or heartbreak. However, it is important to note that the key characteristic of a crime of passion is that it is not premeditated or planned in advance. In legal terms, a crime of passion is often used as a mitigating circumstance in which the defense argues that the defendant's actions were not premeditated and that they acted out of temporary insanity caused by the intense emotions they were experiencing.

The concept of a crime of passion dates back to the 13th century, where it was used to describe the act of killing one's spouse upon discovering them in a compromising position. The legal definition of the term has evolved over the years to reflect changes in societal attitudes towards marriage, relationships, and gender roles.

Examples of Crime of Passion

  1. A man walks in on his wife cheating on him and shoots and kills both her and her lover in a fit of rage.

  2. A wife discovers evidence of her husband's infidelity and in a moment of passion physically assaults him, resulting in his death.

  3. A jealous girlfriend stabs her partner multiple times after seeing them talking to another woman at a party.

Legal Terms Similar to Crime of Passion

  1. Manslaughter: the unlawful killing of another person without the intent to kill.

  2. Heat of passion: an emotional state that can be used as a defense in cases where a person commits a crime out of a temporary loss of control due to an intense emotional reaction.

  3. Justifiable homicide: the killing of another person that is legally permissible or considered justified under the circumstances, such as in cases of self-defense.