1) “Attempted murder implies intent. “
2) The intention of the “knockout game” is to hit someone hard enough to instantly render them unconscious. If that isn’t premeditated attempted murder I don’t know what is.
MacDonald pointed out in one of his novels (and I’ll bet dollars to donuts he is right) that the difference between a blow hard enough to knock a man out and one hard enough to kill is very small.
Thus, if you intend to hit me hard enough to knock me out, I *have* to assume you may hit hard enough to kill thereby justifying the use of deadly force *if* *possible*.
All that matters is what a lawyer can convince a jury.