MA H1759

Eliminates the felony murder rule that automatically classifies killings during life-imprisonment felonies as murder, requiring instead that the person be personally and directly responsible for the killing with malice aforethought

Limits first-degree murder charges in felony killings to only the principal perpetrator who directly committed the killing, not accomplices or accessories

Establishes new sentencing for non-principal participants in killings: 2.5 to 25 years imprisonment for those who aided, counseled, hired, or otherwise procured a killing but did not personally commit it

Applies retroactively to any person charged or convicted of murder or aiding in a killing prior to, on, or after the effective date of the act

Amends Chapter 265 (murder statute) and Chapter 274 (accessory liability) of Massachusetts General Laws