Summary execution
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A summary execution is a type of extrajudicial punishment in which an accused or reported suspect of criminal activity is killed, often at the time and place of their being discovered. Because some summary executions occur without any meaningful inquiry or investigation, they are often considered illegal, and therefore acts of murder. They may, in rare cases, be more acceptable under extreme circumstances, such as in a war zone, or a similar context of profound instability where the criminal justice system is non-functioning, or otherwise too overwhelmed to deal with a widescale breakdown in government.
Summary executions typically occur outdoors; bringing the accused to an office or lockup is generally a prelude to an inquest or trial. They are often carried out expediently by shooting, hanging, stabbing, and stoning, among other methods. Poisoning, electrocution, and other methods requiring controlled conditions would be impractical.
Summary executions may be a tactic employed by parties involved in guerrilla warfare and counterinsurgency tactics.
