Homicide is the killing of one person by another. Homicide can be, but is not always, a crime. Murder and manslaughter are unlawful types of homicide and are punished severely. Legal homicides are described as justifiable, or reasonable. Such cases may include self-defense and the use of deadly force by police. Killing a person who poses an immediate threat to life or safety is justifiable homicide. The killing of enemy soldiers on the battlefield is a widely accepted form of homicide. In places that allow the death penalty, the execution of criminals as punishment for serious crimes is a legal type of homicide.
See also Domestic violence ; Manslaughter ; Murder .
When someone kills a person while driving a car, it is called vehicular homicide. If the driver was intoxicated or driving recklessly, the driver can be charged with varying degrees of criminal homicide. However, purely accidental killings not involving negligence—that is, carelessness and lack of precaution—are not considered crimes.
