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Heat of Passion is a Recognized Defense to the Charge of Murder in Florida

By Ron Chapman

          In the courts of Florida, heat of passion is recognized as a defense to the crimes of first and second-degree murder.           Heat of passion is a mental state provoked by fear, rage, anger or terror that, combined with adequate provocation, is a defense to the crimes of first and second degree murder. Provocation, in order to be adequate, must be such as might naturally cause a reasonable person in the passion of the moment to lose self-control and act on impulse and without reflection.           An example of someone who relied upon the heat of passion defense occurred in the case of Villella v...continue to full post

Full post as published by Palm Beach Criminal Defense Blog on October 16, 2008 (boomark / email).