Contract killing: Difference between revisions
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A '''contract killing''' (also '''contract murder''' or '''murder-for-hire''') is a [[murder]] in which |
A '''contract killing''' (also '''contract murder''' or '''murder-for-hire''') is a [[murder]] in which a killer is hired by another person to murder for material reward, usually [[money]]. A person who carries out a contract killing is sometimes known as a '''contract killer''' or a '''hit man'''. |
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In most countries with [[judiciary|judicial systems]], a [[contract]] to kill a person is unenforceable by [[law]] (in the sense that the customer cannot sue for [[specific performance]] and the contract killer cannot sue for his pay). However, contract killings are not unusual even where they are illegal. |
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| ⚫ | Contract killing appeals to criminals partially because it can be used to establish an "airtight" [[alibi]] for the person who takes out the contract |
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Both a hit man and his customer can be found guilty of [[homicide]]. In some jurisdictions with [[capital punishment]], a contract killing may be a special circumstance that allows for a murder to be tried as a capital crime. |
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| ⚫ | Contract killings are often associated with [[organized crime]], primarily because career criminals are likely to know contract killers, and believe contracting a murder will lessen the likelihood of being caught. Depending on the region and era, contract killers have frequently been used to silence witnesses testifying against criminals or to eliminate rival criminals or politicians who refuse to take a bribe (''plata o plomo'' - a Spanish phrase meaning literally "silver or lead" which usually translates into "money or bullet" — "accept a bribe or face assassination"). |
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| ⚫ | Contract killing appeals to criminals partially because it can be used to establish an "airtight" [[alibi]] for the person who takes out the contract--at the time of the killing, this person can plan to be far away and in a place where many people will see him. At the same time, the person who actually commits the murder will have little or no direct connection to the victim, making it much more difficult for investigators to establish what has happened. By contracting out a murder, a criminal can also avoid personally committing murder, which some may be unwilling or incapable of doing, especially if they had a close relationship with the victim. |
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| ⚫ | Others contract a murder in an attempt to reap some kind of financial windfall |
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| ⚫ | Contract killings are often, though not always, associated with [[organized crime]], primarily because career criminals are likely to know contract killers, and believe contracting a murder will lessen the likelihood of being caught. Depending on the region and era, contract killers have frequently been used to silence witnesses testifying against criminals or to eliminate rival criminals or politicians who refuse to take a bribe (''plata o plomo'' - a Spanish phrase meaning literally "silver or lead" which usually translates into "money or bullet" — "accept a bribe or face assassination"). |
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| ⚫ | Others contract a murder in an attempt to reap some kind of financial windfall--usually as a beneficiary of the victim's insurance policies, or as heir to their estate. However, the most common motive usually involves simply ending an intimate relationship, albeit for an array of reasons.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} |
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Contract killers may make their crime an obvious murder, but may also try to make the death appear to be a suicide or even an accident, or may hide or destroy the body so that it is not clear to authorities that the victim is dead, only that they have disappeared. |
Contract killers may make their crime an obvious murder, but may also try to make the death appear to be a suicide or even an accident, or may hide or destroy the body so that it is not clear to authorities that the victim is dead, only that they have disappeared. |
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Payment for the actual killing (usually referred to as a "hit"), is usually divided in the manner that half of the total money is paid by the customer to the Contract Killer beforehand, and the other half is paid after the successful completion of the hit. This is usually done like a "[[security bond]]" or deposit, ensuring for the hit man, that they will receive some portion of the pay should the client refuse to pay him or other issues arise and client cannot pay the full amount; after the killing has been completed, and also to establish a binding relationship between the client and the hit man. The actual amount for a particular hit will obviously vary considerably based on things such as: the hit man in particular and his standards and usual fee, the difficulty and danger in accomplishing the actual "hit" based upon who the person to be killed is, where they are and any likely police, security and media attention, and also specifically if the client wants the target to be killed in a specific manner (to appear as an accident for example). Though commonly stated figures in the media, and from criminology studies would suggest the usual fee would be in the tens of thousands of dollars, for example in American Dollars; it is difficult to ascertain an average price due to the obviously clandestine nature of hit men and the world of contract killing. |
Payment for the actual killing (usually referred to as a "hit"), is usually divided in the manner that half of the total money is paid by the customer to the Contract Killer beforehand, and the other half is paid after the successful completion of the hit. This is usually done like a "[[security bond]]" or deposit, ensuring for the hit man, that they will receive some portion of the pay should the client refuse to pay him or other issues arise and client cannot pay the full amount; after the killing has been completed, and also to establish a binding relationship between the client and the hit man. |
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The actual amount for a particular hit will obviously vary considerably based on things such as: the hit man in particular and his standards and usual fee, the difficulty and danger in accomplishing the actual "hit" based upon who the person to be killed is, where they are and any likely police, security and media attention, and also specifically if the client wants the target to be killed in a specific manner (to appear as an accident for example). Though commonly stated figures in the media, and from criminology studies would suggest the usual fee would be in the tens of thousands of dollars, for example in American Dollars; it is difficult to ascertain an average price due to the obviously clandestine nature of hit men and the world of contract killing. |
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In some countries law enforcement agents will sometimes pose as contract killers to arrest the people trying to hire them.<ref>http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article122202.ece</ref> |
In some countries law enforcement agents will sometimes pose as contract killers to arrest the people trying to hire them.<ref>http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article122202.ece</ref> |
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Revision as of 23:47, 14 March 2007
You must add a |reason= parameter to this Cleanup template – replace it with {{Cleanup|November 2006|reason=<Fill reason here>}}, or remove the Cleanup template.
A contract killing (also contract murder or murder-for-hire) is a murder in which a killer is hired by another person to murder for material reward, usually money. A person who carries out a contract killing is sometimes known as a contract killer or a hit man.
In most countries with judicial systems, a contract to kill a person is unenforceable by law (in the sense that the customer cannot sue for specific performance and the contract killer cannot sue for his pay). However, contract killings are not unusual even where they are illegal.
Both a hit man and his customer can be found guilty of homicide. In some jurisdictions with capital punishment, a contract killing may be a special circumstance that allows for a murder to be tried as a capital crime.
Contract killing appeals to criminals partially because it can be used to establish an "airtight" alibi for the person who takes out the contract--at the time of the killing, this person can plan to be far away and in a place where many people will see him. At the same time, the person who actually commits the murder will have little or no direct connection to the victim, making it much more difficult for investigators to establish what has happened. By contracting out a murder, a criminal can also avoid personally committing murder, which some may be unwilling or incapable of doing, especially if they had a close relationship with the victim.
Contract killings are often, though not always, associated with organized crime, primarily because career criminals are likely to know contract killers, and believe contracting a murder will lessen the likelihood of being caught. Depending on the region and era, contract killers have frequently been used to silence witnesses testifying against criminals or to eliminate rival criminals or politicians who refuse to take a bribe (plata o plomo - a Spanish phrase meaning literally "silver or lead" which usually translates into "money or bullet" — "accept a bribe or face assassination").
Others contract a murder in an attempt to reap some kind of financial windfall--usually as a beneficiary of the victim's insurance policies, or as heir to their estate. However, the most common motive usually involves simply ending an intimate relationship, albeit for an array of reasons.[citation needed]
Contract killers may make their crime an obvious murder, but may also try to make the death appear to be a suicide or even an accident, or may hide or destroy the body so that it is not clear to authorities that the victim is dead, only that they have disappeared.
Payment for the actual killing (usually referred to as a "hit"), is usually divided in the manner that half of the total money is paid by the customer to the Contract Killer beforehand, and the other half is paid after the successful completion of the hit. This is usually done like a "security bond" or deposit, ensuring for the hit man, that they will receive some portion of the pay should the client refuse to pay him or other issues arise and client cannot pay the full amount; after the killing has been completed, and also to establish a binding relationship between the client and the hit man.
The actual amount for a particular hit will obviously vary considerably based on things such as: the hit man in particular and his standards and usual fee, the difficulty and danger in accomplishing the actual "hit" based upon who the person to be killed is, where they are and any likely police, security and media attention, and also specifically if the client wants the target to be killed in a specific manner (to appear as an accident for example). Though commonly stated figures in the media, and from criminology studies would suggest the usual fee would be in the tens of thousands of dollars, for example in American Dollars; it is difficult to ascertain an average price due to the obviously clandestine nature of hit men and the world of contract killing.
In some countries law enforcement agents will sometimes pose as contract killers to arrest the people trying to hire them.[1]
Statistics
A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology of 162 attempted or actual contract murders in Australia from 1989 to 2002 showed that the most common reason for murder for hire was "in relation to the dissolution of an intimate relationship". The study also found that the average payment for a "hit" was A$12,700 and the most commonly used weapons were firearms. Contract killings accounted for 2% of murders in Australia during that time period.[2]
Contract killings make up a relatively similar percentage of all killings elsewhere. For example, they made up about 5% of all murders in Scotland from 1993 to 2002.[3]