Legal Definitions - occision

Occision

In historical legal contexts, occision refers to the act of slaying or killing, particularly when more than one person is involved.

• Example 1: During a violent uprising in the 17th century, a group of rebels stormed a local manor, resulting in the deaths of the lord, his wife, and several servants. A historical legal document from the period might describe this event as an act of occision committed by the rebels.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates occision because it involves the slaying of multiple individuals (the lord, his wife, and servants) within a historical context, fitting the definition of killing more than one person.

• Example 2: A notorious bandit in the American Old West was known for ambushing stagecoaches. In one particular incident, he attacked a coach, killing the driver, a guard, and two passengers during the robbery. Contemporary newspaper accounts or legal records from that era might use the term occision to describe the bandit's actions.

  Explanation: Here, the bandit's actions constitute occision because he was responsible for the slaying of four distinct individuals (the driver, guard, and two passengers) during a single event, fulfilling the requirement of multiple killings.

• Example 3: Following a medieval siege, the conquering army entered the defeated city and, in an act of retribution, executed several prominent citizens and their families. A chronicler or legal scholar documenting these events centuries later might refer to this mass execution as an act of occision.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates occision as it describes the deliberate killing of numerous individuals (prominent citizens and their families) by a group, emphasizing the historical nature and the multiple victims involved in the slaying.