Murder in Australian law

In Australia, murder is a criminal offence where a person, by a voluntary act or omission, causes the death of another person with either intent to kill, intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, or with reckless indifference to human life.[1] It may also arise in circumstances where the accused was committing, or assisting in the commission, of a different serious crime that results in a person's death. It is usually punished by life imprisonment. Australia is a federal nation and the law of murder is mostly regulated under the law of its constituent states and territories. There is also federal murder offence available in limited circumstances.[2] [3]

  1. ^ For e.g., Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 18
  2. ^ Criminal Code 1995 (Cth) s 115.1
  3. ^ Lanham, David; Wood, David; Bartal, Bronwyn; Evans, Rob (2006). Criminal Laws in Australia. Federation Press. ISBN 978-1-86287-558-6.