Legal Definitions - occision

Occision is a historical legal term that refers to a slaying or killing. It was particularly used to describe the killing of more than one person.

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.