Murder

Murder is the unlawful intentional killing of another person. Its legal definition and degree depend on the jurisdiction.

Mens rea: Mens rea is the mental state required for criminal liability, such as intention or recklessness. Murder generally requires a culpable mental state, though the precise standard varies by jurisdiction.
Criminal investigation: A criminal investigation is the gathering and analysis of evidence about a suspected offense. Investigators reconstruct the death and identify evidence that may connect a suspect to it.
Manslaughter: Manslaughter is an unlawful killing treated as less culpable than murder under applicable law. It commonly covers killings lacking an element or degree of culpability required for murder.
Life imprisonment: Life imprisonment is a criminal sentence requiring a person to remain incarcerated for life or an extended term. It is a possible sentence for murder in many jurisdictions.
Actus reus: Actus reus is the external conduct or result that constitutes a criminal offense. The unlawful killing is the conduct or result that must be established alongside a culpable mental state.
Forensic pathology: Forensic pathology applies medical knowledge to determine the cause and circumstances of death. Autopsy findings can establish how and when the victim died.
Justifiable homicide: Justifiable homicide is a killing that the law recognizes as legally permitted under specified circumstances. Unlike murder, a justifiable homicide is not treated as an unlawful killing.
Death penalty: The death penalty is a state-imposed execution as punishment for a crime. Some jurisdictions authorize it for specified murders, while others prohibit it.
Causation in law: Causation in law determines whether a person's conduct legally contributed to a prohibited result. Prosecutors must connect the accused's conduct to the victim's death.
Forensic evidence: Forensic evidence is information derived from scientific examination of materials connected to a legal case. Physical traces can support or challenge claims about contact, weapons, and events.

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