Question

What is meant by Homicide ?

• A. Suicide by human being not at home
• B. Suicide at home
• C. Killing of a human being by another human being
• D. Killing of human being by animal

Hint:

Break down the word: "Homi" (human) + "cide" (killing). This simple etymology helps to remember that homicide is the killing of a human by a human.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the legal definition of the term 'Homicide'.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The word 'Homicide' is derived from the Latin words homo (meaning man/human) and caedere (meaning to cut or kill). Therefore, etymologically and legally, homicide means the killing of a human being by another human being.
Homicide can be lawful (e.g., in self-defense, by a soldier in war) or unlawful (e.g., murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, causing death by negligence).
- (A) and (B) describe suicide, which is the act of killing oneself. The killing is not by another human being.
- (D) Killing of a human being by an animal is not homicide. It's a death by animal attack. For it to be a homicide, a human must have used the animal as an instrument to kill (e.g., setting a vicious dog on someone), in which case the act is attributed to the human.
Therefore, the core definition of homicide is one human killing another.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Homicide means the killing of a human being by another human being.