Legal Definitions - premeditated

Premeditated describes an action that was carefully thought out, planned, and intentionally decided upon before it was carried out. It signifies that the act was not spontaneous or impulsive, but rather the result of a conscious decision-making process and prior consideration.

• Scenario: A person decides to steal valuable artwork from a gallery. Over several weeks, they visit the gallery multiple times to observe security cameras, guard patrols, and entry points. They then create a detailed floor plan, acquire specialized tools, and choose a specific date and time for the break-in.

  Explanation: This act is premeditated because the individual engaged in extensive planning, reconnaissance, and deliberate preparation over an extended period, consciously deciding on each step before executing the theft. It was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but a carefully orchestrated scheme.

• Scenario: A corporate executive, seeking to enrich themselves, spends months manipulating company financial records. They create fictitious invoices, set up shell companies to funnel money, and forge signatures on approval documents, all to hide their embezzlement scheme from auditors and shareholders.

  Explanation: This elaborate fraud is premeditated because it involved a sustained period of careful planning, deliberate actions, and conscious intent to deceive. The executive systematically developed and executed a complex scheme, demonstrating prior thought and preparation rather than an impulsive act of theft.