FOCL Practice Test

Which term best describes the unlawful killing of an individual categorized by the presence of intent?

1. Negligent homicide

2. Criminal homicide

3. Justifiable homicide

4. Excusable homicide

The correct answer is: Criminal homicide

The term that accurately describes the unlawful killing of an individual with the presence of intent is criminal homicide. This classification encompasses those acts where there is a clear intention to kill or cause serious harm to another person. In legal terms, it implies an awareness and deliberate choice to engage in the act of killing, distinguishing it from other forms of homicide that may involve negligence or lack of intent. Negligent homicide refers to causing the death of another person through criminal negligence, which does not require intent. Justifiable homicide pertains to killings that are deemed legally permissible under certain circumstances, such as self-defense, indicating that the act is not unlawful. Excusable homicide usually involves acts where the law finds some form of justification or excuse for the killing, often due to mental incapacity or duress, which also negates the presence of intent. Therefore, criminal homicide is the only term among the choices that consistently aligns with the concept of an intentional unlawful killing.