Legal Definitions - slay

Slay (verb)

To slay means to cause the death of a person. While historically often used in the context of killing in combat or battle, in a broader legal sense, it refers to the act of taking a human life.

• Example 1: A person, driven by a long-standing grudge, carefully plans and then executes a scheme to poison a business rival, resulting in the rival's death.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates "slay" because the individual deliberately performed an action that directly led to the death of another person, fulfilling the definition of taking a human life.

• Example 2: During a violent altercation outside a bar, one individual strikes another with a heavy object, causing a fatal head injury.

  Explanation: Here, the act of striking with the object directly caused the death of the other person. Regardless of the specific legal charge that might follow (e.g., murder or manslaughter), the act of causing death itself falls under the term "slay."

• Example 3: A homeowner, fearing for their life during a home invasion, uses a firearm to shoot and kill an armed intruder who had broken into their residence.

  Explanation: This situation demonstrates "slay" because the homeowner's action directly resulted in the death of the intruder. While the act might be legally justifiable under self-defense laws, the physical act of causing another person's death aligns with the meaning of the term.