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Simple English definitions for legal terms
sudden heat of passion
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A quick definition of sudden heat of passion:
Sudden heat of passion is when someone becomes very angry, scared, or filled with hatred because of something that happened right away, usually because of what someone else said or did. This can sometimes be used as a reason to reduce a charge of murder to manslaughter. It means that the person's actions were being controlled by their strong emotions, rather than by their ability to think clearly.
A more thorough explanation:
Sudden heat of passion refers to a strong emotional reaction, such as rage or terror, that is suddenly triggered by something someone says or does. This can lead to impulsive and violent behavior.
Under common law, sudden heat of passion could be used as a defense in a murder case, reducing the charge to manslaughter. However, it is important to note that the passion must be extreme enough to temporarily override reason and control.
For example, if someone insults you and you immediately react by punching them, that could be considered a sudden heat of passion. However, if you plan and carry out a premeditated attack on someone, that would not be considered sudden heat of passion.