Legal Question in Criminal Law in Maryland

First of all, go to the library & do your own research. Second, your starting point should be the intent requirements behind these different levels of killing.

Each state legislature and Congress sets its own penalties for crimes based on its own assessment of a variety of factors important to that legislative body. Generally, each crime involves an actus reus or guilty act and a mens rea or guilty mind. The seriousness of the action and the amount of thought that went into it influence the seriousness of the crime and the penalty. Good luck.