Sally is frustrated with her neighbor Mary. Mary has been letting her dog relieve itself on Sally’s daisies, and she has finally had it. After repeatedly telling Mary to take her dog somewhere else, Sally finally decides she has to teach Mary a lesson. One evening, Sally invites Mary inside for some coffee. While inside, Sally poisons Mary, watches Mary die, chops Mary into pieces, and uses Mary as fertilizer for her daisies. What charges should be brought against Sally? Explain your answer with the legal equation for homicide. What does the prosecutor need to show to get a conviction? How would the prosecutor show this?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Mary may be charged with first-degree murder. According to the legal equation, first-degree murder requires premeditation and the deliberate intent to kill another person, act that is the factual and legal cause of death, and the death of another person. Students must sufficiently fulfill each of these requirements. For instance, students must establish that Sally planned out her crime and committed it in cold blood.