Cook v. Grierson

In this case we are asked to interpret the Slayer’s Rule so as to allow for the grandchildren of a murdered victim to inherit from him (the victim having died intestate), notwith standing the fact that the grandchildren’s father (the victim’s son) was the murderer and is still alive. We recognize, by our previous construction of the rule, that persons who are the natural object of the slayer’s bounty are disqualified from taking directly from the victim’s estate as well as through the slayer’s estate. Because the slayer never acquired a beneficial interest in the victim’s estate, anyone…