homicide

in criminal law, a crime consisting of the intentional or negligent deprivation of human life. Under Soviet law, homicide is the most serious crime against the person. The law distinguishes intentional homicide (murder), intentional homicide under aggravating circumstances, intentional homicide committed in a state of strong mental agitation, homicide committed while exceeding the limits of necessary defense, and negligent homicide (involuntary manslaughter).

The severest punishment—deprivation of freedom for a term of eight to 15 years, with or without exile, or death—is established for intentional homicide under aggravating circumstances: (1) from mercenary motives; (2) from motives of hooliganism; (3) committed in connection with the victim’s performance of his official or social duty; (4) committed with special cruelty; (5) committed in a manner dangerous to the life of many persons; (6) for the purpose of concealing another crime or facilitating its commission, or in conjunction with rape; (7) of a woman known to the guilty person to be pregnant; (8) of two or more persons; (9) committed by a person who has previously committed intentional homicide, with the exception of intentional homicide committed in a state of strong mental agitation and homicide committed while exceeding the limits of necessary defense; (10) committed because of a blood feud; and (11) committed by an especially dangerous recidivist.

Homicide in the absence of aggravating circumstances is punishable by deprivation of freedom for a term of three to ten years. Types of homicide committed under mitigating circumstances include homicide committed in a state of sudden, strong mental agitation caused by violence, serious insult, or other unlawful actions of the victim if these caused or could have caused serious consequences for the guilty person or those close to him; and homicide committed while exceeding the limits of necessary defense. The least serious type of homicide is negligent homicide (involuntary manslaughter). Death caused as the result of the intentional infliction of grave bodily injury must be distinguished from homicide.