A person hires a killer to murder his enemy. What is his legal status?
Halacha 2 states he is a shedder of blood liable to Heaven (dinei shamayim), but not subject to court execution, since another person was the actual agent.
Question 2
A baby born at 7 months is killed within its first 30 days of life. What is the killer's status?
Halacha 6 rules that a baby born before nine months is presumed a nefal (inviable birth) until it lives 30 days; killing it within those 30 days does not make the killer liable.
Question 3
An owner strikes his servant with a sword, and the servant dies a year later from the wound. What is the ruling?
Halacha 13 explains that the Torah permitted striking with a rod only; using a sword or knife is treated as a murderous blow, so the owner is executed even if death comes a year later.
Question 4
When is a person who kills someone presumed to be a trefah NOT executed?
Halacha 9 states that a trefah killer is executed only if he killed in front of the court itself; killing before witnesses only is insufficient because the witnesses cannot be subject to hazamah (disqualification) in this case.
Question 5
What source does the Rambam cite to show that a hired killer is judged by Heaven, not the courts?
Halacha 3 derives the four categories of indirect bloodshed from Genesis 9:5, noting the expression 'I will demand an account' (drisha) appears for each, indicating divine rather than human judgment.