Homicide is often broken down into two types: manslaughter and murder.
_Manslaughter is a homicide that occurs due to the negligence of the accused. It may be voluntary (done in the heat of passion) or involuntary (accidental, such as a drunk driving accident.)
_Murder is a homicide that occurs with willful intent. First-degree murder is the cold-blooded killing of another person, usually after extensive planning. Second and third-degree murder is often without premeditation, and can sometimes be brought down to voluntary manslaughter.