Legal Definitions - preconceived malice

Definition: Preconceived malice is a legal term that refers to the intention to harm someone that was formed before the harmful act was committed. It is also known as malice aforethought.

Example: If someone plans to kill another person and then carries out that plan, they have preconceived malice. This means that they had the intention to harm the person before they committed the act.

Explanation: The example illustrates preconceived malice because the person had already formed the intention to harm the other person before carrying out the act. This is different from a situation where someone acts impulsively or in self-defense, where there is no preconceived intention to harm.