Hi,
What is the difference between 'homicide' and 'murder'? Is there a difference in British and American usage with regard to this term?
A lawyer should really answer this. I'm not a lawyer, but here are a couple of comments.
homicide - Focuses on the killing of a human being, in the same way that 'fratricide' focuses on killing one's brother, 'suicide' on killing one's self, etc. Homicide is not necessarily a crime. If a police officer kills someone who shoots first at him, this is not illegal, not murder. 'Justifiable homicide' is the phrase I often hear.
murder - Focuses on the unlawful killing of a human being. Involves some degree of premeditation or intention (first degree and second degree murder, murder in cold blood or in hot blood). Careless, accidental killing is 'manslaughter' rather than 'murder'.
I look forward to a lawyer's more detailed explanation.
Best wishes, Clive