{"data":{"id":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-565.003","jurisdiction":"us-mo","citation":"Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.003","heading":"Culpable mental state may exist though different person killed — transfer of intent, when — time between act and death no defense.","body":"1. (1) The culpable mental state necessary for a homicide offense may be found to exist if the only difference between what actually occurred and what was the object of the offender's state of mind is that a different person or persons were killed.\n(2) It shall not be a defense to a homicide charge that the identity of the person the offender intended to kill cannot be established. If the state proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the offender had the requisite mental state toward a specific person or a general class of persons who are not identified or who are not identifiable, such intent shall be transferred to a person who is killed by the offender while such mental state existed.\n2. The length of time which transpires between conduct which results in a death and is the basis of a homicide offense and the event of such death is no defense to any charge of homicide.","path":["Title XXXVIII - CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS","Chapter 565 - Offenses Against the Person"],"source_url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=565.003","current_through":"2026 legislative session (floor)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T22:23:29Z","sha256":"782697a9b5bbfd208b9257a94e7eb7ada92f06af82b3362496c55acef3771e66","source_id":"us-mo","stale":false,"prev":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-565.002--2","next":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-565.004"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}