What is a homicide?

Answer 1

Homicide is when somebody kills or murders someone else

it is killing of another person by another person

Homicide comes from the words homo-, meaning "of the same," in this case, species, and -cide, meaning killing, such as pesticide, genocide (killing of members of a race), etc.

Homicide is the killing of another human being. It is the general term of such a type of killing, and is branched into criminal homicide vs. justifiable homicide. All murders are homicides, but not all homicides are murder.

Answer 2

Criminal homicide includes murder, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Homicides that are without justification or excuse are considered criminal. Non criminal homicides include death caused by accident when no one is At Fault, self defense or the carrying out of a sentence of execution.

Answer 3

Homicide is the killing of a human being due either to an act, or the failure to act, of another. Criminal homicides include murder and manslaughter. Non-criminal homicides include killing in self-defense, 'misadventures' such as a hunting accident or an automobile wreck absent a violation of law (i.e.: speeding, reckless driving, etc.), or a legal (i.e.: government-sanctioned) death such as a court-ordered execution or a lawful killing by a law enforcement officer. Suicide is also a homicide, but is very rarely prosecuted. However, attempting suicide can be a crime, as can be assisting in one (except in those few US states where assisted death has been legalized).

Homicides can be classified as follows;

1. Justifiable Homicides -- these are "no fault" homicides. They ordinarily involve the death of someone under circumstances of necessity or duty (i.e.: commanded or authorized by law). Examples would be self-defense, capital punishment, and lawful police shootings.
2. Excusable Homicides -- these are misadventures, accidents, or acts of insanity. They can involve acts of civil fault, error, or omission.
3. 1st Degree Criminal Homicide (Murder) -- These are acts involving the pre-planned death of someone in "cold-blood." Also, the crime of felony murder (a death caused during commission of a felony) is automatically 1st degree homicide.
4. 2nd Degree Criminal Homicide (Murder) -- These are acts involving the death of someone in the "heat of passion". Heat of passion murder doesn't require provocation, but it still requires proof of intent.
5. Voluntary Manslaughter -- Manslaughter, in general, involves acts involving the death of someone without premeditation, but acting in "sudden passion".
6. Involuntary Manslaughter -- This is the crime of Criminal Negligence, sometimes called 'Misdemeanor Manslaughter.' It typically involves the careless use of firearms, explosives, animals, medicine, machinery, trains, planes, ships, and motor vehicles. Many states have created a separate category called 'Vehicular Manslaughter' for cases involving motor vehicles.

The above description is a comprehensive review of the types or the classification of the offense. (In the US) All state jurisdictions will have their own unique statutes which address these matters which may (or may not) follow the above model exactly.

Answer 4

Homicide and murder are both legal terms for the unlawful killing of another person.

There are different degrees of unlawful killing. The worst case is premeditated murder where the act has been thought about and planned in advance.

A less severe form of punishment or sentence may be applied where someone may have been killed by accident though someone is still directly responsible.

These are completely different to the lawful killing carried out by officers of the law and servicemen. In certain circumstances it is also lawful for a civilian to kill another person.

Answer 5

Literally speaking, a "homicide" is the killing of a human being by another human being.
The killing of a person.

Answer 6

Homicide means a person who kills another, or a killing of one human being by another.

Answer 7

A murder.