Murder is among the most serious criminal offenses a person can face in Connecticut. The state’s laws address the unlawful killing of another person through a structured framework of charges, each with specific elements and potential consequences. This article will explain what constitutes murder under Connecticut law, the different classifications of the charge, and the penalties that can be imposed upon conviction.
Defining Murder in Connecticut
Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a states that a person is guilty of murder when they, with intent to cause the death of another person, cause the death of that person or a third party.1Justia. Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a (2024) – Murder The definition requires the mental state of the accused (intent) and the physical act of causing the death. The prosecution must prove that the defendant had the specific “conscious objective” to cause death.
The law also allows for a conviction if someone causes a suicide through the use of force, duress, or deception. Evidence regarding a defendant’s mental state is admissible to determine if the person acted with the requisite intent. The statute provides an affirmative defense if the act was committed under the influence of an extreme emotional disturbance, which could potentially reduce the charge to manslaughter.
Degrees of Murder and Specific Classifications in Connecticut
Connecticut law does not use the “degree” system common in other states but instead has several distinct classifications for murder, each defined by specific circumstances. The primary charge, simply called murder, applies when there is a clear intent to kill. This charge forms the basis for other, more severe classifications that are determined by the context of the crime.
A more serious classification is “murder with special circumstances,” as outlined in C.G.S. § 53a-54b.2Justia. Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54b (2024) – Murder With Special Circumstances This charge applies when specific aggravating factors are present, including:
- The murder of a law enforcement officer
- A murder committed for financial gain
- A murder by someone with a prior murder conviction or while under a sentence of life imprisonment
- A murder committed during a first-degree sexual assault
- The murder of a person who was kidnapped or held hostage
- The murder of two or more people in a single event
- The murder of a person under sixteen years of age
The law also specifies “arson murder” under C.G.S. § 53a-54d. A person is guilty of arson murder if they commit arson and, in the course of that act, cause the death of another person. This charge does not require the prosecution to prove an intent to kill; the intent to commit the arson is sufficient if a death results.
The Felony Murder Rule in Connecticut
Connecticut law includes a provision known as the felony murder rule, codified in C.G.S. § 53a-54c.3Justia. Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54c (2024) – Felony Murder This rule allows a person to be convicted of murder if a death occurs during the commission of another serious crime, even if the person did not directly cause the death or have the intent to kill. The list of predicate felonies that can trigger a felony murder charge includes robbery, burglary, home invasion, kidnapping, and various degrees of sexual assault and escape.
For example, if two people attempt to rob a store and one of them causes the death of a clerk, both can be charged with murder under this rule. The law does, however, provide for an affirmative defense in limited situations where the defendant was not the killer, was not armed, and had no reason to believe any other participant was armed or intended to cause harm.
Penalties for Murder Convictions in Connecticut
A standard murder or felony murder conviction is a class A felony, carrying a sentence of 25 to 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.4Justia. Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-35a (2024) – Imprisonment for Felony Committed On or After July 1, 1981 A conviction for “murder with special circumstances” results in a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of release.
A conviction for “arson murder” also carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for any offender who was eighteen years of age or older at the time of the crime. While Connecticut abolished the death penalty in 2012, life imprisonment without parole is the state’s highest penalty for these offenses.