The Moral Weight of Murder

Abstract The act of murder raises deep moral questions about how a person could kill another human-being. Yet little is known about how individuals implicated in murders morally reflect on their actions. Based on research with men and women convicted of murder when young in England and Wales, this article exposes the differential moral burden of murder offences: a ‘moral weight’ that varies along a continuum from light to heavy. ‘Light’ moral weight is associated with making sense of an offence and being able to psychologically and emotionally move on from it—essential for developing a positive sense of self and wellbeing. The ‘moral weight’ of murder offers a new and empirically grounded framework to explore how people can be supported to move on from serious offending.