PREMEDITATIO

1 definition found

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  PREMEDITATION. A design formed to commit a crime or to do some other thing 
  before it is done. 
       2. Premeditation differs essentially from will, which constitutes the 
  crime, because it supposes besides an actual will, a deliberation and a 
  continued persistence which indicate more perversity. The preparation of 
  arms or other instruments required for the execution of the crime, are 


  indications of a premeditation, but are not absolute proof of it, as these 
  preparations may have been intended for other purposes, and then suddenly 
  changed to the performance of the criminal act. Murder by poisoning must of 
  necessity be done with premeditation. See Aforethought; Murder.