Homicide
Homicide
Homicide (/ˈhɒmɪsaɪd/; from Latin homicidium) is the act of one human killing another. A homicide requires only a volitional act by another person that results in death, and thus a homicide may result from accidental, reckless, or negligent acts even if there is no intent to cause harm.
Etymology
The term homicide derives from the Latin words homo, meaning "man", and caedere, meaning "to cut or kill", signifying the act of a man killing another man.
Types of Homicide
Homicide is divided into many overlapping legal categories, including murder, manslaughter, justifiable homicide, killing in war, euthanasia, and capital punishment, depending on the circumstances of the death.
- Murder - Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought.
- Manslaughter - Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpitable than murder.
- Justifiable homicide - Justifiable homicide is a defense in criminal law in which the defendant argues that their actions resulted in death and were necessary to defend themselves or others from serious harm or death.
- Euthanasia - Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering.
- Capital punishment - Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is a government-sanctioned practice whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime.
Related Terms
- Criminology - Criminology is the scientific study of crime, including its causes, responses by law enforcement, and methods of prevention.
- Forensic science - Forensic science is the application of science to criminal and civil laws, mainly—on the criminal side—during criminal investigation, as governed by the legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal procedure.
- Autopsy - An autopsy is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death or to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Homicide
- Wikipedia's article - Homicide
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