malice aforethought

noun, Law.

a predetermination to commit an unlawful act without just cause or provocation (applied chiefly to cases of first-degree murder).

Also called malice prepense.

Origin

1660-70

Examples from the web for malice aforethought

So it's not fair of me to accuse him of malice aforethought.
It is for a jury to decide whether the perp had malice aforethought.
Essentially, it is of no matter, as malice aforethought and deliberate design mean the same thing.
It's a matter of malice aforethought on the part of persons unknown.
The unlawful killing of a human being by another with malice aforethought, either express or implied.

British Dictionary definitions for malice aforethought

noun (criminal law)

the predetermination to do an unlawful act, esp to kill or seriously injure

the intent with which an unlawful killing is effected, which must be proved for the crime to constitute murder See also murder, manslaughter