Common law first-degree murder is typically defined as which of the following?

• A. Premeditated or deliberate murder
• B. Murder committed during a sudden quarrel
• C. Killing in self-defense
• D. Accidental death

Answer: (A)

First-degree murder at common law requires malice shown through premeditation or deliberation. Premeditation means the killer formed the intent to kill before acting, even if only for a brief moment. Deliberation means there was careful thought or weighing of the decision to kill, not a spontaneous act. Because of this planned intent, it is distinguished from other killings that lack such planning.

Killing during a sudden quarrel lacks that prior planning, so it’s typically not first-degree. Killing in self-defense isn’t murder at all. An accidental death has no intent to kill, so it also isn’t first-degree murder. Therefore, the description of premeditated or deliberate murder best matches the common-law definition.