justifiable homicide

noun

1. lawful killing, as in self-defence or to prevent a crime

Example Sentences

According to some analyses, there are substantial racial disparities in rulings of justifiable homicide under the laws.

From New York Times

Mr. Kelly tries to maintain the pretense that he hasn’t prejudged issues coming to the court, but he has previously written that abortion is “a policy deadly to children,” and he spoke virtually at an event this month that featured a pastor who has advocated for creating an antiabortion militia and has called the murder of abortion providers “justifiable homicide.”

From Washington Post

Protasiewicz and her backers have also faulted Kelly for speaking online this week at an event attended by Brookfield pastor Matthew Trewhella, who has called the murder of an abortion provider “justifiable homicide,” supported the creation of anti-abortion-focused militia and compared pandemic-related mask mandates to the Holocaust.

From Seattle Times

“Since a Justifiable Homicide isn’t a crime, there is no felony or misdemeanor offense to report,” Melissa Underwood, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said in an email.

From Washington Post

“Justifiable homicide is not a crime, so why is it housed in this publication called ‘Crime in the United States’?”

From Washington Post