Homicide

For other uses, see Homicide (disambiguation).

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Homicide is the killing of another human being by one or more others. In contrast, suicide is the self killing of a human being. The word is often misspelled as homocide.

Legally homicide is classified as either justifiable homicide which is not a crime, or the following crimes:

• murder
• manslaughter
  • voluntary manslaughter
  • involuntary manslaughter
• homicide
  • culpable homicide (in Scots law)
  • negligent homicide (in some jurisdictions)
    • reckless manslaughter
    • mere negligence
  • excusable homicide
  • justifiable homicide
  • legal homicide

• infanticide
• causing death by dangerous driving

UK offence. The mens rea requirements for this offence to be committed are weaker than the requirements for manslaughter or murder.

• genocide

Defenses against the crime of homicide, where the identity of the killer is not in dispute, include insanity, self-defense and provocation. Defense of property is not per se a defense against homicide, although a homicide where self-defense became necessary as a result of undertaking defense of property may be justifiable homicide.

All murders are homicides, but not all homicides are murders.