ABSTRACT
There are four types of unlawful homicide: murder, manslaughter, infanticide and causing death by dangerous driving. The last two are mentioned for the sake of completeness only.
Homicide
ManslaughterMurder Infanticide Death by dangerous driving
InvoluntaryVoluntary
Gross negligence
Constructive manslaughterSuicide pactProvocation
Diminished responsibility
Murder
Murder is a common law offence with no statutory definition. The definition generally used is the one given by Sir Edward Coke in the 17th century:
Murder is when a man of sound memory, and the age of discretion, unlawfully killeth within any county of the realm, any reasonable creature in rerum natura under the king’s peace, with malice aforethought so that the party wounded or hurt, etc, die within a year and a day of the same.
