§ 2-201. Murder in the first degree

   (a) In general. -- A murder is in the first degree if it is:

   (1) a deliberate, premeditated, and willful killing;

   (2) committed by lying in wait;

   (3) committed by poison; or

   (4) committed in the perpetration of or an attempt to perpetrate:

      (i) arson in the first degree;

      (ii) burning a barn, stable, tobacco house, warehouse, or other outbuilding that:

         1. is not parcel to a dwelling; and

         2. contains cattle, goods, wares, merchandise, horses, grain, hay, or tobacco;

      (iii) burglary in the first, second, or third degree;

      (iv) carjacking or armed carjacking;

      (v) escape in the first degree from a State correctional facility or a local correctional facility;

      (vi) kidnapping under § 3-502 or § 3-503(a)(2) of this article;

      (vii) mayhem;

      (viii) rape;

      (ix) robbery under § 3-402 or § 3-403 of this article;

      (x) sexual offense in the first or second degree;

      (xi) sodomy; or

      (xii) a violation of § 4-503 of this article concerning destructive devices.

(b) Penalty. --

   (1) A person who commits a murder in the first degree is guilty of a felony and on conviction shall be sentenced to:

      (i) imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole; or

      (ii) imprisonment for life.

   (2) Unless a sentence of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole is imposed in compliance with § 2-203 of this subtitle and § 2-304 of this title, the sentence shall be imprisonment for life.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 407-410, 412(b); 2002, ch. 26, § 2; 2009, ch. 186; 2013, ch. 156, § 3.