Murder in Croatian law

In Croatian law, murder is classified into 3 categories: ubojstvo, teško ubojstvo and usmrćenje according to the 10th section of the Criminal Law of 2011.^[1]

Teško ubojstvo: Murder with Special Circumstances

A person who: "1. murders another in a cruel or treacherous manner; 2. murders a person who is especially vulnerable due to his or her age, a severe physical or mental disorder or pregnancy; 3. murders a family member whom he or she has already abused; 4. murders another out of greed, ruthless revenge, hatred or other base motives; 5. murders another in order to commit or cover up another criminal offence; 6. murders an official person in relation to his or her performance of official duties."^[2][3]It is punishable with no less than 10 years imprisonment, or a long-term sentence (up to 40 years of imprisonment under Croatian law).^[4][5]

Ubojstvo: Murder

This is classified any intentional killing of another human being with no special circumstances. Punishable with no less than 5 years of imprisonment.^[6]

Usmrćenje and Prouzročenje smrti iz nehaja: Manslaughter

There are three forms of usmrćenje, or reckless murder:

• A murder that has been provoked - punishable no less than 1 year and not more than 10 years of prison.^[7]
• Mother murdering their child after birth - six months to five years.^[7]
• Mercy killing - up to three years.^[7]

There's also prouzročenje smrti iz nehaja, meaning involuntary manslaughter, which carries a penalty of six months to five years imprisonment.^[8]

Suicide and abortion

The criminal law also defines separate penalties for:

• assisting in a suicide^[9]
• assisting in an illegal abortion^[10]
• assisting in euthanasia^[11]