Criminal Law Terms

< Criminal Lawyer

Malice
Malice is the intent to commit a wrongful act without justification or excuse. Acts of malice also demonstrate wanton disregard for personal rights or the value of human life. Types of malice may fall into different categories:

• actual malice: proved by evidence to exist, and involving an intent to injure or kill (actual malice may also be called express malice, or malice in fact), or having knowledge that defamatory statements are false.
• implied malice: inferred from the nature or consequences of a harmful act done without justification (also called "legal malice")
• malice aforethought: actual or implied malice existing in or attributed to the intention of one who injures/kills-malice aforethought requires some degree of deliberation or premeditation and wanton disregard for life.