Chance medley
Encyclopedia
Chance medley is a term from English law used to describe a homicide
arising from a sudden quarrel or fight. The term distinguishes a killing that lacks malice aforethought
necessary for murder
, on the one hand, and pure accident.
The term is, therefore, a practical synonym with the modern "manslaughter
."
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
arising from a sudden quarrel or fight. The term distinguishes a killing that lacks malice aforethought
Malice aforethought
Malice aforethought is the "premeditation" or "predetermination" that was required as an element of some crimes in some jurisdictions, and a unique element for first-degree or aggravated murder in a few.-Legal history:...
necessary for murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, on the one hand, and pure accident.
The term is, therefore, a practical synonym with the modern "manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
."