Homicide: The Deeper Facts

Definition and Origin of the Term

Homicide is defined in the common ldictionary as “the killing of one or more human beings by another human being.”  The word is originated from Latin (Homicidium; Homo meaning “human being” and Cidium coming from caedere, meaning to cut or kill).

Types of Homicide

Though some people believe that homicide is strictly killing, the term goes much deeper in terms of law enforcement.  There are generally four legal categories of homicide, of which include Murder; Manslaughter; Noncriminal-Homicide; and Negligent, Accidental or Excusable Homicide.

• Murder:     The killing of someone else where it was obviously intentional.
• Manslaughter:     The unplanned killing of someone, such as in the spur of the moment without premeditation.
• Noncriminal-Homicide:     A justified kill.  For example war, self-defence, capital punishment.
• Negligent, Accidental, or Excusable Homicide:     Such as a failure in a medical procedure like surgery.

“Mercy Killing”

Homicides that are not considered to be against the law range in and around “mercy killing”, which has long been a debated topic as to whether or not it is and should be accepted, or penalized as a crime.  I, for one, am not sure about what to believe religiously and morally about mercy killing because I have been taught that no killing is acceptable except in war or self-defense, but at the same time, it would be hard to watch a loved one suffer.
In other countries, it has been ruled that some cases of “mercy killing” is not illegal.  An example of this is the euthanasia of someone who is bound to die out of sickness or one that is critically injured and is in a substantial amount of pain.