Editing Openai/694170e2-8f8c-800d-b99b-eda956927eda (section)

=== Assistant: Here are clear, legally realistic examples that courts commonly use to explain this situation—without getting technical… ===
Here are clear, legally realistic examples that courts commonly use to explain this situation—without getting technical or instructional.

==== Example 1: Shooting Into a Possibly Occupied Building ====

A person:
* Believes there is a small chance (e.g., 4%) someone is inside a cabin
* Says or thinks: “If anyone is inside, I want them dead.”
* Fires several shots into the cabin
* Later, it’s impossible to determine whether anyone was inside

Legal result (typical U.S. analysis):
* ❌ Not murder (no proven death)
* ✅ Attempted murder
* Possibly reckless endangerment

Why:
The shooter had intent to kill and took a substantial step, even though no victim is confirmed.

==== Example 2: Setting a Fire Where Someone Might Be ====

A person:
* Knows an abandoned warehouse is usually empty
* Thinks there’s a small chance a squatter could be inside
* Starts a fire anyway, believing “If someone’s in there, they deserve to die.”
* The building collapses; no remains are found

Legal result:
* ❌ No homicide charge (death not provable)
* ✅ Attempted murder
* ✅ Arson
* Possibly reckless endangerment

Key point:
The law focuses on the defendant’s mindset at the moment of action, not whether the risk materialized.

==== Example 3: Poisoning Food That May Be Consumed ====

A person:
* Places poison in food left in a public area
* Believes there is a low chance someone will eat it
* Intends death if anyone does
* The food is later thrown away; no one is known to be harmed

Legal result:
* ✅ Attempted murder
* Possibly food tampering or related offenses

Why:
This is a classic attempt case taught in law school:

: Intent + dangerous act = attempt, even if no one eats it.

==== Why These Count as Attempted Murder (Plain English) ====
* Intent: “If someone is there, I want them dead”
* Risk awareness: Defendant knew someone might be there
* Action: A concrete, dangerous step was taken
* Outcome irrelevant: The law does not reward luck

: Criminal law punishes choices, not just consequences.

==== What Would Change the Charge? ====

| Change in Facts     | Likely Effect         |
| ------------------- | --------------------- |
| Proven death        | Murder / manslaughter |
| No intent to kill   | Reckless endangerment |
| Pure accident       | No criminal liability |
| No substantial step | No attempt            |

===== Bottom Line Example Summary =====

: “I thought someone might be there, and if they were, I wanted them dead—so I acted.”
: That sentence alone supports attempted murder, even if no victim is ever found.

If you want, I can also give:
* A borderline example where it wouldn’t be attempted murder
* How defense attorneys try to argue lack of intent
* How juries are instructed to think about low probability risks