Homicide is a term used to describe any unlawful killing of another person, including murder, manslaughter, euthanasia and infanticide but excluding suicide. It also excludes death from car accidents, accidental drug overdoses and suicide attempts (HIRCR, 2023).
The definition of homicide is fairly universally agreed upon and therefore differences in data collection for this crime type are less severe than with some other types of criminal offence. As such, homicide figures tend to be more comparable across countries than other forms of violent deaths (Block, 1977).
While the definition of homicide is universally accepted, a variety of legal defenses can be offered. These arguments attempt to diminish the severity of a murder charge by questioning the intent and circumstances of a case. Some common legal defenses include self-defense, lack of intent and proving that the homicide was justifiable.
Felony murder is a more serious form of criminal homicide, and can carry the death penalty. This homicide is committed when someone kills someone in the commission of a dangerous felony, such as robbery or arson. Felony murder is further categorized into degrees, with first-degree being the most serious, and second-degree being the least serious.
Voluntary manslaughter is a less severe form of criminal homicide, and is distinguished by the absence of intent. However, involuntary manslaughter is still a criminal offense and can lead to significant prison sentences. Some jurisdictions have moved away from using the term voluntary manslaughter and instead use the terms reckless or negligent homicide, in an effort to better describe the state of mind required for this type of crime.