Murder
Wikipedia defines murder as “the unlawful killing of another human person with malice aforethought, as defined in Common Law countries”. Notice the phrase “with malice aforethought”; though most people would like to believe that the phrase means “premeditated”, in this case, it embraces different concepts. According to the same Wikipedia entry, various states of the mind that may constitute “malice aforethought” include “intent to kill or cause serious bodily harm short of death, reckless indifference to unjustifiably high risk to human life, and intent to commit a dangerous felony”. Other factors like the weapon/s used and the type and degree of felony committed (rape, kidnapping, or arson) make up the whole picture of a “murder”.
In plain and simple terms, though, murder is an evil act that defies the rules of society, law, and ethics.
Some of the most popular murderers are serial killers like Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, the BTK (Bind, Torture and Kill) Killer, Aileen Wournos (whose story was told in the movie “Monster”), Angelo Buono, Jr. (“The Hillside Strangler”), and of course, Jack the Ripper.
In my country, the Philippines, there are several serial killers but majority of the murderers people are familiar with are those who committed sensationally famous crimes. Some of the convicted murderers are Rolito Go (who shot graduating student Eldon Maguan due to a traffic altercation); Mayor Antonio Sanchez (who raped and killed UP Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta); the kidnappers and murderers of UP Diliman students Cochise and Beebom; and Claudio Teehankee, Jr. who killed Maureen Hultman and Roland Chapman, and shot Jussi Leino inside Dasmariñas Village, Makati in 1991.
I would include Hubert Webb and company (for the Vizconde massacre), but until now, I am still not sure whether they were guilty BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.
Most of these criminals were ordered to reclusion perpetua. Sadly, though, our president has granted pardon to Teehankee. While it is the president’s sole authority to conclude whether a criminal should be pardoned or not, several reports have cited “unexplainable” factors about this particular case.
Let’s just hope that in the near future, our justice system and national government will be stricter in tackling sensitive issues regarding convicted murderers.
Navigate through these sites to get more information about the cases mentioned above:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Teehankee,_Jr.
http://www.manilatimes.net/others/special/2005/jan/18/20050118spe1.html
http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/1999/jan99/121039_45.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder
http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/1998/jan1998/106210_11.htm
http://www.allserialkillers.com/
