Man confesses to killing hospitalized wife because he couldn't afford to care for her, police say

return2ozma@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 427 points –
Man confesses to killing hospitalized wife because he couldn't afford to care for her, police say
abcnews.go.com
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How is this not first degree murder? He admitted to trying to kill her before and depression is not a defence for murder.

I guess they don't think it would stick. In Missouri, murder in the first degree is "if he or she knowingly causes the death of another person after deliberation upon the matter". The defense would probably argue that in this instance, he did not deliberate, but took advantage of a brief opportunity.

I don't know how true that is, but it seems like a likely argument.

Except he admitted to having deliberated on it and tried it before, he had also planned it on a third occasion. This could not have been more premeditated.

Yeah, this doesn't feel like it could be more premeditated. He tried it multiple times.