Legal Definitions - hanging

Definition: The act of carrying out an execution by suspending the person above the ground by a rope around the person's neck. Death is caused by asphyxiation (by being hoisted from the ground) or by a sudden breaking of the cervical vertebrae (by being dropped from a height).

Example: In the past, hanging was a common method of execution for serious crimes such as murder and treason. The convicted person would be led to the gallows, where a noose would be placed around their neck. Then, they would be dropped from a height, causing their neck to break and leading to their death.

This example illustrates how hanging is a form of execution that involves suspending a person by a rope around their neck. The act of dropping them from a height causes their death either by asphyxiation or by breaking their neck.