When a violent death occurs in Minneapolis, Saint Paul or anywhere in Minnesota, the specific charge filed—first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter—dictates the potential prison time.
Here’s how the state differentiates these acts:
The Degrees of Murder
- First-degree murder (Life Imprisonment): Requires premeditation (planning) and intent. It also covers deaths caused during severe felonies like rape or kidnapping, or the killing of a police officer.
- Second-degree murder (Max 40 Years):
- Intentional: The killer intended to cause death but did not plan it beforehand (e.g., a sudden argument turns deadly).
- Unintentional (Felony Murder): A death that occurs while committing another felony (e.g., a drive-by shooting where the intent was to intimidate, not kill).
- Third-degree murder (Max 25 Years): The “Depraved Mind” statute. This applies when someone commits an act “eminently dangerous to others” without regard for human life.
- Critical Legal Distinction: Following the MN Supreme Court ruling in State v. Noor, this charge applies only to indiscriminate acts (e.g., shooting blindly into a crowd). If the act was directed at a specific person, third-degree murder generally cannot be charged.
Manslaughter…