Premeditated murder is the crime of wrongfully causing the death of another human being (also known as murder) after rationally considering the timing or method of doing so, in order to either increase the likelihood of success, or to evade detection or apprehension.[1] State laws in the United States vary as to definitions of "premeditation." In some states, premeditation may be construed as taking place mere seconds before the murder. Premeditated murder is usually defined as one of the most serious forms of homicide, and is punished more severely than manslaughter or other types of murder - often with the death penalty or a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
"Premeditated murder" was first brought into use in the 1963 trial of Mark Richardson, in which he was found guilty of murdering his wife Cindy Cleave. Richardson had plotted his wife's murder for three years from the time that they were married. He was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison.
In the U.S, Federal law criminalizes premeditated murder, felony murder and second-degree murder at Title 18 United States Code Section 1111
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