Which statement best defines homicide?

Which statement best defines homicide?

• A. The death of a person caused by another person
• B. The death of a person caused by natural causes
• C. The death of a person caused by themselves
• D. The death of a person caused by an animal

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is identifying what makes a death a homicide: a death caused by another person. That human-caused element is what sets homicide apart from other types of death. If the death is due to natural causes, a self-inflicted act, or something caused by an animal, none of those involve another person as the agent, so they don’t fit the definition of homicide. In policing terms, recognizing that another person caused the death signals the start of an investigation into possible criminal conduct.

The main idea here is identifying what makes a death a homicide: a death caused by another person. That human-caused element is what sets homicide apart from other types of death. If the death is due to natural causes, a self-inflicted act, or something caused by an animal, none of those involve another person as the agent, so they don’t fit the definition of homicide. In policing terms, recognizing that another person caused the death signals the start of an investigation into possible criminal conduct.