Legal Difference between Murder & Homicide

What is the Difference Between Murder and Homicide?

While the terms murder and homicide may be interchanged frequently, they certainly have very different definitions in the eyes of the law. The different variations of these crimes may all depend on the morality, cause, and execution of the act, all of which are usually decided upon by a jury.

Homicide is when one person kills another, while murder is homicide with intent (pre-planned). Murder is not defined by common law, rather it is defined by statute. However, homicide has quite a different connotation and results in different legal ramifications, sometimes none at all.

These subtle yet important differences are highlighted below.

The Legal Definition of Murder is as Follows:

• Intentional killing
• Unlawful, as in not legally justified
• Committed with malice aforethought, also known as the intention to kill someone without legal justification or excuse
• Intentional infliction of bodily harm which causes victim’s death
• Behavior which shows extremely reckless disregard for life and results in victim’s death

Murder is not defined by common law, rather it is defined by statute. However, homicide has quite a different connotation and results in different legal ramifications, sometimes none at all.

The Legal Definition of Homicide is as Follows:

• Any killing of a human being by another human being
• Justifiable killing, such as self-defense or otherwise
• May not necessarily be illegal, though unlawful homicide is classified as a crime like murder and manslaughter

Contact Our Corpus Christi Criminal Defense Lawyers

If you have been accused of a murder or homicide, don’t give up hope just yet. At the Law Offices of Alex R. Hernandez, Jr. PLLC, we are a team of experienced and determined criminal defense lawyers serving Texas who will work tirelessly to provide you with the legal support and advocacy you need. The key to getting head of such a charge is to get your legal defenses ready as soon as possible, with the help of a knowledgeable and strong-minded Corpus Christi criminal defense lawyer such as ours.

Contact The Law Offices of Alex R. Hernandez, Jr. PLLC at (888) 907-8994 to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense lawyer in Corpus Christi today.