Blog 5

       Murder and homicide are not the same thing. Homicide is the taking of a person's life, either unintentionally (negligent), or intentionally (self defense). Murder is homicide with criminal intent. Ultimately, murder is always an illegal act and homicide can often be legal or justifiable.
       Murder can is categorized under three different types (or degrees). First degree murder, the most serious, is defined as murder that is "will full or premeditated." Second degree murder is murder that isn't planned in advance or premeditated. Killing a person in a fight would constitute because the murder wasn't premeditated, but there was a possibility of death occurring. Finally, third degree murder, or manslaughter, occurs when a person unintentionally kills another person through negligence.
       Types of homicide include justifiable or negligent. Justifiable homicide is a killing that occurs through self defense. Certain states have "castle" laws that allow for the killing of another if the act occurs in a home and is required for self defense. Negligent homicide is a criminal matter that occurs when criminal negligence leads directly to the death of another person.

In The News: http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Nathan-Leuthold-indicted-on-two-counts-of-first-degree-murder-200122731.html
       Nathan Leuthold was indicted by a grand jury for the murder of his wife, Denise Leuthold. Nathan was accused of shooting his wife and then staging a break in at their home. A note found in the home claimed that Denise found out her husband was having an affair and was worried that Nathan might want her dead. Not much else was mentioned by the media other than some basic facts surrounding the events. The indictment was made 5 days ago.

Popular Media:
Ice Cube has a popular song about murder in the hood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWfbGGZE07M. I think the song addresses first degree murder because Ice Cube makes mention of taking care of business and having to use his gun to accomplish that.

Another song about murder is by Snoop Dogg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do4fA8tONY4. The song addresses murder that resulted from a robbery gone wrong. This would tie in to felony murder, or first degree murder because it occurred during the commission of a felony robbery.