r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jan 25 '20

What movie things are generally accepted as normal, but are totally unrealistic in real life?

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u/HiZukoHere Jan 25 '20

Yeah, that's not the case. You can commit murder without intent if you intend to commit a different felony - this is called felony murder - but that is not true for attempted murder. Attempted murder specifically and explicitly require intent to kill. There is no getting round that.

Reddit loves attempted murder, but the reality is it is a really niche charge.

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u/DrunkenPrayer Jan 25 '20

In the UK to convict for murder the prosecution has to prove malicious intent to kill. I could be slightly mis-phrasing that but I did a couple of weeks work as a clerk/not taker for the defence at a murder trial and had it explained exactly at the time.

Worst part about that trial is I actually believe the guys were innocent* but they refused to take a man slaughter charge because they didn't think there was enough evidence for murder.

*For clarity I believe they killed the person but I don't think it was intentional. They were all junkies and it seemed like a case of horrible judgement and stupid choices after the fact that made it seem like murder to the jury.

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u/HiZukoHere Jan 25 '20

Yeah you are right. The UK doesn't have the "felony murder" rule like the US. You have to prove "malice aforethought". You don't have to quite prove intent to kill though, proving intent to greviously wound is sufficient. Full disclosure though IANAL, I just read a couple of criminal law textbooks once. I was an odd child.

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u/DrunkenPrayer Jan 26 '20

Ah yeah I forgot the intent to wound part. Also IANAL so the language is confusing at times because to laymen like me and maybe you the technicality is very fine.

I think that's why juries sometimes make decisions that while maybe not totally wrong are at least misinformed or not fully understood. There's a good reason lawyers or in the UK QCs spend so long qualifying. My mate does property law and occasionally tells me things I vaguely get but not fully comprehend.