Criminal Law

Mary hates her husband Tom. Tom had to leave for a business trip, so Mary takes time to develop an elaborate plan to kill Tom while he is sleeping, when he returns. Tom’s business meeting is cancelled so he comes home early from his trip, but he forgot his house key. He knocks on the door and no one answers and no one answers the phone so he climbs into the house through an unlocked guest bedroom window. Mary, thinking a prowler has entered the house, shoots Tom and kills him. When Mary realizes that the prowler is actually Tom, she can’t contain her happiness and starts dancing around like she just won the lottery.

Is Mary guilty of a crime? Why or why not?

Make sure you use material from this week and even last week to justify your answer.