Legal Definitions - malitia

Definition: Malitia (m-luh-shuh) is a Latin word that means "malice" or an actual evil design. It was originally used to describe general wrongdoing, but eventually came to mean intentional wrongdoing or malice aforethought.

Examples:

• Malitia praecogitata: This term means "malice aforethought" and refers to a premeditated or planned act of wrongdoing. For example, if someone plans to murder another person and carries out the act, they can be charged with malitia praecogitata.
• Malitia capitalis: This term means "deadly malice" and refers to an act of wrongdoing that results in someone's death. For example, if someone intentionally poisons another person and they die as a result, they can be charged with malitia capitalis.

These examples illustrate how malitia is used to describe intentional and premeditated acts of wrongdoing. It is often used in legal contexts to describe the severity of a crime and the state of mind of the person who committed it.