Malice Aforethought Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Malice Aforethought.

(n) Malice Aforethought: This term refers to a person's conscious and deliberate intention to cause serious harm or death to another individual. This intent is often premeditated or planned ahead. For example, someone taking a loaded gun along during a planned robbery with full awareness that they might use it to harm or even kill others to achieve their goals.