{"id":373735,"date":"2016-04-11T01:22:48","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:22:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/state\/maine-law\/maine-felony-murder-law.html"},"modified":"2025-04-24T17:50:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T22:50:51","slug":"maine-felony-murder-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maine-law\/maine-felony-murder-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Maine Felony Murder Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Maine Felony Murder Law<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Maine’s felony murder law holds individuals accountable for any deaths that occur during or shortly after committing an inherently dangerous felony. This rule applies even if the death was unintended, as long as the felony being committed is considered dangerous, such as robbery or arson. Unlike other murder charges that require proving intent to kill, felony murder requires only the intent to commit the underlying felony.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Most states define the crime of murder<\/a> in largely the same way. For example, Maine law considers the following acts as murder:<\/p>\r\n