Jim Aiken fell victim to an unfaithful marriage when he came home and caught his wife in bed with the mailman. As many people who have had their trust broken in relationships know, it is easy to lose your temper in this type of circumstance and Jim Aiken was no exception. He was unable to control his response and immediately shot the mailman that was sleeping with his wife. In what was most likely a state of denial and shock, he went downstairs and made himself a sandwich and watched TV while he was contemplating the thoughts inside of his mind. After a couple of hours, he decides that he cannot take the rage that he is feeling any longer and he decides to go upstairs and shoot his wife. The crime that Jim Aiken committed against the mailman is Voluntary Manslaughter. The murder of the mailman was a crime that was committed in the head of the moment, with no planning. Jim simply came home and reacted to the fact…show more content… Although her death was not premeditated, nor was she killed in the heat of passion, she was killed with a lack of concern for human life. (Gardner 2012)
If Jim had killed his wife at the same time as the mailman, he could be charged with Voluntary Manslaughter for the death of his wife and the mailman. However, instead he killed the mailman and took a lunch break before deciding to murder his wife. It is this brief moment of time that separates the charge of Second Degree Murder and Voluntary Manslaughter. Jim had the time to calm down and to rationalize his emotions, but still chose to commit manslaughter due to the resentment he felt towards his wife.
Jim Aiken should be charged with Second Degree Murder and Voluntary Manslaughter. He should face fifteen years to life for Second Degree Murder and an additional three to eleven years for Voluntary Manslaughter.
