Homicide comes in many forms. As a matter of fact, the legal definition of homicide comes in many forms. But first, if you or someone that you know has been involved in a homicide, you need to contact an Indiana criminal defense attorney. At the Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez we have experience in defending our clients against major felonies. Give us a call at (317) 721-9858 for excellent legal representation in your criminal case right away!
What is Homicide?
The act when one human takes the action to kill another is considered a homicide. For a homicide to have occurred, there must be an intentional act by another person that results in death, even if there is no intention to cause harm. With that in mind, a homicide may result from:
- Accidental act
- Reckless act
- Negligent act
Homicide is Divided in Several Different Categories
The legal definition of homicide can be divided into several different legal categories. The categories of the legal definition of homicide include:
- Murder
- Manslaughter
- Justifiable homicide
- Killing in war
- Euthanasia
- Capital punishment
The type of homicide is treated in different ways based on the prevailing sentiment and laws of society. This means that there are some forms of homicide that are permissible or socially acceptable, at least in part, and there are other forms of homicide that are treated as capital crimes.
Justifiable Homicide versus Excusable Homicide versus Criminal Homicide.
How a homicide is treated by society as well as under the law is a matter of intent. Justifiable homicide is a homicide that has taken place with the reasonable belief that a serious crime is being committed as an attempt to prevent a crime. An excusable homicide occurs when homicide committed accidentally or with sufficient provocation while doing some lawful activity. actions to be deemed excusable homicide, the attack victim could not have used a dangerous weapon or killed in a cruel or unusual way. For an excusable homicide to have occurred, the crime would have occurred as an act of self-defense. Criminal homicide is when the unlawful killing of another. It is usually divided into categories based on the intent of the person. Some of the categories of criminal homicide include:
- Murder
- Manslaughter
- Criminally negligent homicide
The more intentional the behavior, the higher the level of criminal charge and legal punishment will be. As a matter of fact, murder is the most serious as it is considered a specific intent crime, which means that the person committed an act that was actually intended to kill or seriously harm another. Manslaughter is the unlawful killing that doesn’t involve malice, the intent to seriously harm or kill, or an extreme, completely utter reckless disregard for the life of another human being.
The Legal Definition of Homicide. Comes in Many Forms.
Again, the legal definition of homicide is not easily distinguishable in some forms, which is the reason why if you have been charged with a form of homicide you need to retain a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Call our office immediately at (317) 721-9858 for a consultation today.
