{"id":374533,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:48","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/missouri-law\/missouri-second-degree-murder.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:49:11","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:49:11","slug":"missouri-second-degree-murder","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/missouri-law\/missouri-second-degree-murder.html","title":{"rendered":"Missouri Second-Degree Murder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Missouri Second-Degree Murder<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\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

Second degree murder is the second most serious of the homicide<\/a> crimes in Missouri. In order to prove that the defendant committed second degree murder<\/a>, the prosecutor must show beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant killed an individual without lawful justification.<\/p>\n

This degree or level of murder is the middle ground between first degree murder<\/a> (premeditated and intentional killing) and voluntary manslaughter<\/a> ("heat of passion murder"). If the criteria for second degree murder aren’t met, the defendant may still be found guilty of a lesser murder charge, such as voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter<\/a> (an accidental killing).<\/p>\n

Defenses to Murder Charges<\/h2>\n

Some defenses to second degree murder are complete, meaning the accused walks free if believed by the court, such as innocence. However, others defenses, such as self-defense or intoxication may be only partial. These partial defenses may only reduce the crime to a lower murder charge, most often to voluntary manslaughter.<\/p>\n