DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MURDER AND CULPABLE HOMICIDE
Murder and culpable homicide are both terms used in legal systems around the world to describe the killing of a person, but there are some key differences between the two. In this essay, I will explore these differences in detail.
First, let’s define the two terms. Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought. Malice aforethought means that the perpetrator had the intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to the victim. This intention can be formed in an instant, or it can be premeditated. The key element of murder is the mental state of the perpetrator. To be convicted of murder, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had the requisite intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.
Culpable homicide not amounting to murder is a term used when the act of the perpetrator causes the death of a person, but the act was not done to kill. This can include situations where a person acted in the heat of the moment, where they were acting in self-defense, or where they were negligent. The key difference between culpable homicide not amounting to murder and murder is that in the former, the perpetrator did not have the intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm. This does not mean that the perpetrator did not do anything wrong; they are still responsible for the death of the victim, but the legal consequences are less severe than in cases of murder.
Culpable homicide amounting to murder is a type of homicide where the perpetrator intended to cause harm, but the intention to kill was not present. For example, if someone intentionally caused an injury to another person that resulted in death, they would be guilty of culpable homicide amounting to murder. This type of homicide is also known as murder in the second degree in some jurisdictions. The key difference between this type of homicide and murder is that the intention to kill was not present, but the perpetrator was still responsible for the death of the victim.
To further understand the differences between murder and culpable homicide, let’s examine some examples of each.
Murder Example 2: Sarah is angry with her ex-boyfriend and decides to run him over with her car. She drives to his house, sees him in the driveway, and accelerates toward him, hitting him and killing him. In this case, Sarah had the intention to cause grievous bodily harm to her ex-boyfriend, and her actions resulted in his death. She would be charged with murder.
Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder Example 1: Tom and Jim are arguing, and the argument becomes physical. Tom punches Jim, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground. Jim dies from his injuries. In this case, Tom did not have the intention to kill Jim, but his actions caused his death. Tom would be charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder Example 2: Sue is driving home from a party.