Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Language / Words / Difference Between Homicide and Manslaughter

Difference Between Homicide and Manslaughter

July 16, 2011 Posted by koshal

Homicide vs Manslaughter
 

Homicide and manslaughter are two terms that are used to refer to murder, but, in the legal world, there is a distinct difference between homicide and manslaughter. Most of us know what a murder is. Killing of a person by another is in general referred to as homicide, which surprisingly can be legal, when killing takes place in self-defense, or when a person has been sentenced to death and his execution only remains to be performed. There is another legal interpretation where killing is accidental with no intention of hurting, but homicide takes place (like, when two kids are playing and one kills another with an object, without any intention). Manslaughter is another term that is used for murders with consideration for defendant’s state of mind. With the result being the same, which is killing of a human being, it becomes difficult for many to differentiate between homicide and manslaughter. This article attempts to highlight these differences.

What does Homicide mean?

Homicide is an umbrella term, including all killings of human beings, whether murdered with intent or accidental, as in the case of a person gets killed because of drunk driving of another person.

What does Manslaughter mean?

Manslaughter is a special category of murders, where killing takes place without any intention. If a driver rushes past red light in hurry and rams his car into passengers killing a few of them, it is considered a case of manslaughter, which is a lesser degree offense than murder with intent. This is a legal term and hard to explain to a person, who has lost his relative because of the act of the driver. When a police officer kills a man whom he suspects of being a criminal, he too faces charges of murder in a court of law, but his attorney proves it to be a case of manslaughter thus, lowering the intensity of crime in the eyes of the jury. Manslaughter is less serious than a murder with a malicious intent. It is still a homicide but less reprehensible in the eyes of the law . Thus, it carries less severe punishment than a murder with the intention and a pre-planned execution.

There are two categories of manslaughter, voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter takes place when a person kills another in a fit of emotional rage. The attorney tries to defend the killer by claiming he is a socially responsible citizen in all circumstances, and did not plan to commit a murder. Involuntary manslaughter takes place when a person gets killed because of reckless behavior of another person without the intent of killing a human being.

Difference Between Homicide and Manslaughter

What is the difference between Homicide and Manslaughter?

• Homicide is an umbrella term that just describes the killing of a human being, while manslaughter is a specific legal term that stands as a special case of murder without intent.

• Sometimes, heat of the moment makes a person kill another human being, and this murder is categorized as voluntary manslaughter or non-negligent manslaughter.

• Involuntary manslaughter is when reckless behavior of a person causes the death of another person or persons.

• Whether voluntary or involuntary, manslaughter attracts lesser penalty than a murder that has the intent, as well as planning.

Related posts:

Difference Between Manslaughter and MurderDifference Between Manslaughter and Murder Necessary vs SufficientDifference Between Necessary and Sufficient Difference Between Loose and LoseDifference Between Loose and Lose Difference Between Isolation and Rehabilitation Difference Between Formal and InformalDifference Between Formal and Informal

Filed Under: Words Tagged With: accidental killing, homicide, homicide and manslaughter, homicide definition, homicide meaning, homicide means, involuntary manslaughter, manslaughter, manslaughter definition, manslaughter meaning, manslaughter means, non negligent manslaughter, voluntary manslaughter

About the Author: koshal

Koshal is a graduate in Language Studies with a Master's Degree in Linguistics

Comments

  1. Peter says

    July 17, 2013 at 3:56 am

    What is the legal definition of criminal manslaughter – not manslaughter versus murder – but criminal manslaughter period?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Apple iPad 3 and Motorola Xoom 2

Difference Between 401K and Pension

Difference Between Nationality and Race

Difference Between Nationality and Race

Difference Between Hyperplasia and Neoplasia

Difference Between Hyperplasia and Neoplasia

Difference Between Chairman and President

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Diarrhea and Gastroenteritis
  • What is the Difference Between Cell Plate and Metaphase Plate
  • What is the Difference Between Acrylic and Silicone Sealant
  • What is the Difference Between MLVA and MLST
  • What is the Difference Between Excimer and Exciplex
  • What is the Difference Between Slow and Fast Axonal Transport
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.