Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against the person - Murder, manslaughter, etc

168: Further definition of murder

You could also call this:

“Murder includes causing serious harm or stopping someone's breathing to help commit other serious crimes”

You can be guilty of murder even if you don’t mean to kill someone or don’t know that death might happen. This can occur in three situations:

If you cause very serious injury to help you commit certain crimes, to help you escape after committing or trying to commit these crimes, or to avoid being caught for any crime, and the person dies from that injury.

If you give someone a drug or something else that makes them unconscious or powerless to help you do any of the things mentioned above, and the person dies because of it.

If you stop someone from breathing in any way to help you do any of the things mentioned above, and the person dies because of it.

The crimes referred to include treason, espionage, sabotage, piracy, piratical acts, escaping from prison, sexual violation, murder, abduction, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, and arson.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM329312.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law

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167: Murder defined, or

“Murder is when someone purposely kills another person or causes severe harm that leads to death, even if by accident or for another reason.”


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169: Provocation, or

“This old rule about getting very angry and doing something bad was removed from the law in 2009.”

Part 8 Crimes against the person
Murder, manslaughter, etc

168Further definition of murder

  1. Culpable homicide is also murder in each of the following cases, whether the offender means or does not mean death to ensue, or knows or does not know that death is likely to ensue:

  2. if he or she means to cause grievous bodily injury for the purpose of facilitating the commission of any of the offences mentioned in subsection (2), or facilitating the flight or avoiding the detection of the offender upon the commission or attempted commission thereof, or for the purpose of resisting lawful apprehension in respect of any offence whatsoever, and death ensues from such injury:
    1. if he or she administers any stupefying or overpowering thing for any of the purposes aforesaid, and death ensues from the effects thereof:
      1. if he or she by any means wilfully stops the breath of any person for any of the purposes aforesaid, and death ensues from such stopping of breath.
        1. The offences referred to in subsection (1) are those specified in the following provisions of this Act, namely:

        2. section 73 (Treason) or section 78 (Espionage):
          1. section 79 (Sabotage):
            1. section 92 (Piracy):
              1. section 93 (Piratical acts):
                1. section 119 to 122 (escape or rescue from prison or lawful custody or detention):
                  1. section 128 (Sexual violation):
                    1. section 167 (Murder):
                      1. section 208 (abduction):
                        1. section 209 (Kidnapping):
                          1. section 231 (Burglary):
                            1. section 234 (Robbery):
                              1. section 267 (Arson).
                                Compare
                                • 1908 No 32 s 183
                                Notes
                                • Section 168(2)(e): amended, on , by section 206 of the Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50).
                                • Section 168(2)(f): replaced, on , by section 7(1) of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).
                                • Section 168(2)(j): replaced, on , by section 7(2) of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).
                                • Section 168(2)(k): replaced, on , by section 7(2) of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).
                                • Section 168(2)(l): replaced, on , by section 7(2) of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).