murder suspect
Definition
Noun: A person who is believed by authorities to have possibly committed a murder, but who has not been formally charged or convicted. This term refers to an individual under investigation or suspicion for the crime of unlawful killing.
Usage
The term "murder suspect" is used to identify a person in the context of a criminal investigation. It is a neutral legal designation that implies suspicion but not guilt. - The police have taken the murder suspect in for questioning. - During the trial, the defense attorney challenged the evidence against her client, the murder suspect. - News reports identified a new murder suspect in the decade-old case.
Advanced Usage
- Legal Distinction: The term carefully distinguishes between suspicion and proven guilt. A "murder suspect" becomes an "accused murderer" or "defendant" after being formally charged.
- Media Reporting: Often used in journalism to describe a person of interest in a homicide case while adhering to the principle of "innocent until proven guilty."
Variants and Related Words
- Suspect (n): A more general term for a person suspected of any crime.
- Person of Interest: A broader, sometimes less formal term used by law enforcement for someone involved in or with information about a crime.
- Accused Murderer (n): A person formally charged with murder.
Synonyms
- Homicide suspect
- Suspected killer
Related Phrases
- To be a suspect in a murder case: This phrase describes the state of being under suspicion.
- He became a suspect in the murder case after his alibi fell apart.
- Prime murder suspect: Refers to the individual considered the most likely perpetrator by investigators.
- The victim's business partner was the prime murder suspect.
Noun
-
someone suspected of committing murder
