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Lesson 4 - Homicide and Related Crimes
What is homicide?
In Latin, Homo cidium means homo = human, and cidium = act of killing. So the word homicide simply means the killing of a person. Technically, all killings are homicides; the real question is whether a killing is criminal. In modern usage, we often think of the word homicide as referring to a criminal act. But it is useful to realize that there are several forms of homicide: justifiable homicide occurs when a victim of an assault kills her assailant in self-defense. Government-sanctioned homicide occurs when a death sentence is carried out or when a service member kills someone pursuant to a lawful military order. A criminal homicide occurs only when someone takes another person's life as a direct or indirect result of an unlawful act.
Take a look at the different forms of homicide:
First Degree Criminal Homicide
A malicious, intentional, and premeditated killing.
Example: Joe hides in Juan's living room and shoots Juan in the head when Juan returns home.
Second Degree Criminal Homicide
An intentional killing that is not premeditated.
Example: Joe and Juan meet at a bar, have a few drinks and get into an argument. Juan then shoots Joe in the heat of the disagreement.
Third Degree Homicide or Manslaughter
A non-violent crime that results in death.
Example: Texting while driving, getting into an accident, and then causing the death of another driver.
Felony Murder
When an offender kills (regardless of specific intent to kill) while committing a felony.
Example: Isaac drives Mercedes to a bank, knowing that Mercedes intends to go inside and rob the bank. Isaac waits in the car during the robbery. During the robbery, Mercedes shoots and kills the teller. Isaac had a bad intent—to rob a bank—but not the intent to kill. Because he had the intent to commit a felony (bank robbery), he is said to have committed felony murder. He caused the death of another person as an indirect result of his conduct.