Murder, Failure to Define

Criminal Law Update

People v Mesick,__ Mich App __; __ NW2d __ (No. 282088, September 10, 2009)(sep'09).The failure of Michigan legislation to define "murder" does not render MCL 750.316 unconstitutional. The court held that "[w]e find nothing vague about what conduct is prohibited by the statute." The distinguishing element of murder, manslaughter, is adequately defined in case law and in the dictionary.