Murder

From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change

Murder is when one person illegally kills another person on purpose. Some killing is instead called manslaughter.

The legal definition of murder and manslaughter may be different in different countries, and is very much debated: for example, killing in war is not usually called murder by those who take place in the war, whatever the reasons for the war are. Killing in self defense (if people being attacked kill someone who is attacking them) is often not called murder.

In biblical religions, the first murder was supposed to have been Cain killing his brother Abel.

[change] Assassination

"Assassination" is another word for murder when a person is hired by another. The word is commonly used when the person who was killed was a famous celebrity or was a person involved in politics. People who carry out assassinations are called "assassins". The person carrying out the killing may do so for political reasons, money, or for other reasons, such as favors owed.