Re: 3 muslims gunned down in Chapel Hill. “Hate crime”
1st degree murder is the most serious charge (among degrees of murder) in the US. A first degree murder means elements like deliberate planning, premeditation, or malice. In other words, person made deliberate and clear-headed decision to kill the person. Hate crime is federal laws & defendant cannot be tried in state court for that.
Btw, only benefit of charging someone with hate crime is that there is no parole or probation in federal system. So, if someone is convicted and sentenced for x number of years they have to served out entire time…were in states they might let them out after serving some time on good behaviors.