Second degree murder may be defined as a murder which is not premeditated and was not an intended result. This murder is usually the result from an assault or an attack in which the loss of life remained only a distinct possibility.
Second degree murder is very different from the first degree, which is a result of a more serious crime like robbery, rape etc. This type of murder is premeditated and intentional. Different states have different laws when it comes to differentiating the two.