CRIME OF PASSION

A crime committed in the heat of the moment; where the situation understandably causes such great passion that the individual is unable to reflect on the true nature and consequences of their actions. Typically this defense is used in the situation where a spouse discovers the other spouse in bed with a lover and kills the lover in a passionate rage. The defense is that the actor did not have the intent or desire to murder but was overcome with emotion. A jury that believes a crime of passion defense will convict the defendant of manslaughter instead of murder, which requires a specific intent to kill.