Murdrum was introduced into
English law by the
Danes. Being the killing of a man in a secret manner, it is distinguished from simple
homicide. In the
Laws of Canute[?] an unknown man who was killed was presumed to be a Dane, and the
vill[?] was compelled to pay 40 marks toward his family for his death. After the
Norman conquest the law was revived in respect of the
Norman aristocracy. It was abolished in the reign of
Edward III .
Richard I of England exempted the Knights Templar from being charged with murdrum and Latrocinium amongst other privileges.