NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 68
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Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
manslaughter/homicide/murder
To cause the death of any human being by whatever means is a
HOMICIDE (pronounced HAHM-ih-side).
MANSLAUGHTER is homicide without malice or premeditation.
MURDER is malicious, premeditated homicide.
Do not describe anyone as a MURDERER until he or she has been
convicted of the charge.
Do NOT say someone WAS MURDERED until the person charged
with the killing has been convicted in court.
That's key here.
Say a victim was KILLED, not murdered.
And, get this.
A MURDER is only about HUMAN life.
Human beings KILL animals.
Fair or not, human beings cannot be found guilty of the "murder" of
animals.
So don't tease a story about a woman who poisons pigeons with
tainted peanuts as "the pigeon murderer."
Mrs. B sends you off on your merry way with this maudlin reminder
for today's lesson, suggested by an ND:
A murder is a homicide.
A homicide isn't a murder.
Murder is a degree of homicide.
