noun Law. a predetermination to commit an unlawful act without just cause or provocation (applied chiefly to cases of first-degree murder).

How is malice aforethought determined?

Under California law, malice aforethought is the mental state required for a person to be liable for the crime of first or second-degree murder. ... A defendant acts with express malice if he/she unlawfully intended to kill.

What's the meaning of malice aforethought?

Definition of with malice aforethought

—used to describe a criminal act that was deliberately planned to cause harm to someone Murder is the killing of another person with malice aforethought.