Aggravated murder is a form of homicide that involves specific aggravating circumstances making the crime more serious than regular murder. It generally requires proof that the defendant intended to kill and often planned the murder in advance. Aggravated murder can include killing during the commission of another serious crime (like rape or robbery), killing certain protected individuals (such as police officers or persons under a certain age), killing while in custody, or causing multiple deaths at once. Because of these aggravating factors, penalties are harsher and may include life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty, depending on the jurisdiction and details of the case.