Legal Definitions - self-killing

Self-killing

In legal terms, self-killing refers to the act of intentionally causing one's own death. It is synonymous with suicide, indicating a deliberate and conscious decision to end one's life.

Here are some examples illustrating this term:

• Example 1: A person suffering from severe depression meticulously plans and then consumes a lethal dose of medication, leaving a note expressing their intent to die.

  Explanation: This illustrates self-killing because the individual deliberately took an action (consuming the medication) with the clear and stated intention of ending their own life, which subsequently led to their death.

• Example 2: An individual, facing overwhelming financial ruin and despair, intentionally drives their vehicle at high speed into a solid barrier, resulting in a fatal collision.

  Explanation: This demonstrates self-killing as the person consciously chose to engage in an action (driving into a barrier) that they knew would cause their death, thereby intentionally bringing about their demise.

• Example 3: A person climbs to the top of a tall building and deliberately jumps, with the explicit intention of ending their life.

  Explanation: This is a clear instance of self-killing because the individual performed a direct, active physical act (jumping) with the specific and conscious purpose of causing their own death.