Killing vs Murder
We often encounter words like “kill” and “murder” in newspapers and on TV, which inform us about people dying in accidents and those who lose their lives due to planned attacks by other humans. Although the end result is the same – the loss of human life – in both a killing and a murder, the law makes a distinction between killing and murdering when sentencing a culprit accused of murder. The difference between a man getting killed in an accident and a man getting murdered will be highlighted in this article.
Kill
“Kill” is a term used to denote the death of human beings, though it is also used for the death of animals. However, this article will focus on the loss of human lives. The word is broad and encompasses all instances of loss of human lives, whether accidental, intentional, or planned. A man may be killed in a car accident or killed by another human being. If a man is killed in a workplace due to the ignorance or fault of another person, the accused is still charged with killing and not murder.
Murder
“Murder” is a term reserved for the intentional killing of a human being. Any instance where the death of a human being is due to malicious intent and action of another person is referred to as murder. A murderer either meticulously plans and carries out the act or attacks another human being in a fit of rage. It is not necessary for a murder to be gruesome or violent, as culprits can make it look like an accidental killing in some cases. The only instance where a murder is still considered a killing is when a soldier kills another soldier in a war.
Key Takeaways
• A murder is the killing of a human being that is planned and intentional, whereas killing is a generic term used more in accidental killings.
• The most important distinction between a killing and murder is that of motivation and intent. A murder has intent and is planned, whereas killing does not have intent.
• Soldiers kill, they do not murder in war. Murder is more serious than killing in the eyes of the law and therefore carries a harsher sentence.
