Homicide VS. Murder

What is the difference? The difference between homicide and murder is that homicide is defined by any killing of a person in general. Homicide can further be broken down into criminal and noncriminal homicide. Within these categories are murder, manslaughter, crime of passion, suicide, DUI, DWI and self defense (Attorney.org, 2011). A murder more specifically then, is a kind of criminal homicide, that can further be broken down into first and second degree murder. According to Part IV >> Title I >> Chapter 265 >> Section 1: Murder defined, under the general laws of Massachusetts, the degrees of murder are defined by the following. "Section 1. Murder committed with deliberately premeditated malice aforethought, or with extreme atrocity or cruelty, or in the commission or attempted commission of a crime punishable with death or imprisonment for life, is murder in the first degree. Murder which does not appear to be in the first degree is murder in the second degree. Petit treason shall be prosecuted and punished as murder. The degree of murder shall be found by the jury" (Massachusetts, 2013). 

Murder Case in Massachusetts

According to ABC News on December 16, 2011, as police investigated the murders of John "Jack" Magee, 69, and his wife Geraldine, 67, all signs pointed "to a well-planned murder". It has been said to have been a double homicide. As their daughter and grandchildren arrived to their mansion Wednesday morning, the doors were found unlocked. Found dead inside were John and Geraldine, the family dog was still there. Other than releasing that there were no known suspects, they refused to give further details. An autopsy would later be performed to try and determine "exactly how the couple died" (Davis, 2011).
Interestingly enough, what possibly makes this case more than a double homicide though is the fact that not only was the couple "found lying head-to-head, shot in their necks" (Davis, 2011) but there was not a single shell casing found at the crime scene, meaning that the scene had been cleared of any. Also, found 25 miles away was the couples' Lexus, badly burned. Allegedly, the car was found in an area known for mob activity; Boston's North End. Yet friends and family of the couple who were interviewed could agree that this was a "senseless crime". Paul Mercandetti, a friend of the Magees, told ABC News that "he finds it hard to believe they could have been targeted" (Davis, 2011). He also added "Jack is a guy that strives to makes things right and does things properly", not comprehending how the crime could have happened or why they could have been selected as victims.
After further research, no more articles were found on the outcome of this case. The only information ever given on the believed suspects of this case, was the possibility of it having been a mob attack, although those close to the couple said this did not make sense. This case as discussed by the media seemed a bit obscured, almost as if there were something concealed. Also the fact that there were no further stories with the outcome of this case makes it seem as though what really happened was never disclosed or the case has yet to be solved. 

Media Portrayal

Below are two videos that were created by the influence of murder or the idea of murder. They were both created to spread awareness.

"Speaking of Murder: Media Autopsies of Famous Crime Cases"
This video was made in order to spread awareness on a book that has been written "Speaking of Murder: Media Autopsies of Famous Crime Cases" written by Bonnie Bucqueroux. Her goal for this continuing series is "to help reporters report on victims without re-victimizing them and maybe to help us find ways to prevent these crimes so that they never need to happen again."

Elevator Murder Experiment
This video was made as you can read in the title, as an experiment. A "murder in progress" is planned in an elevator in order to see how those arriving will react. You will be surprised at some of the results!

References

Attorney.org. (2011). Homicide. Retrieved from http://criminal.attorney.org/homicide

Davis, Linsey. (2011). Massachusetts Mansion Murders: Details Emerge as Police Seek Clues. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/US/massachusetts-mansion-murders-details-emerge-police-seek-clues/story?id=15168313#.UVdnKRzFXqU

Massachusetts Laws.  (2013). Murder Defined. Retrieved from http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter265/Section1

What is Mob Violence?

Mob violence is violence committed by more than one person. This kind of violence is often organized, contrary to popular belief. This crowd also shares a common purpose and usually acts in a unified manner. Two examples of mob violence would be rioting and protests turned violent. This type of group violence usually exists because the crowd wants to prevent or accomplish some sort of social change.

 Mob Violence Case in Massachusetts

February 5, 2012 was a sad night for Patriot fans, as they lost to the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. Most fans quietly mourned their team’s Super Bowl loss and quietly filed back to their cars and public transit stations, although things were rowdier at the University of Massachusetts (Morrison, 2012). Since many riots had previously occurred at the University, “ a large contingent of UMass police, Amherst police and Massachusetts State Police assembled on campus well before the end of the game” (Canova, 2012). At about 10:08 p.m. a dispersal order was issued, about 15 minutes after a large crowd started gathering.  It is said that about 1,500 students gathered in a “common area of the Southwest residential area on campus” (CBS, 2012), although other witnesses claimed that the number of total people gathered was as many as 3,000 (Canova, 2012). According to many sources, it was said that fist fights occurred within this large crowd. However, the extent of how much violence really took place is unclear.
For example, according to one source “students smashed bottles and set off firecrackers and other fireworks, and a fight broke out in the middle of a large mass of people. One student was seen scaling a building, while another was restrained by three officers” (Canova, 2012). Also student “Marissa Faldasz, a junior whose dorm room looks out over where students gathered, said they were chanting ‘U.S.A., U.S.A.,’ and throwing beer cans and toilet paper rolls” (Morrison, 2012). On the other hand according to spokesman Ed Blaguszewski, “There were some fistfights, but no one was hurt badly enough to be taken to a hospital and no property damage was reported” (Morrison, 2012). Also, according to CBS Boston no damage or injury was reported (CBS, 2012).
Nevertheless, police in riot gear with smoke bombs were called in to break up the crowd.  Fourteen people were arrested but plead not guilty to various charges of which included failure to disperse and disorderly conduct. Four of these people are charged with inciting a riot. Thirteen of these people are UMass students and possibly face discipline under the university’s code of conduct also (CBS, 2012). The names of the people involved were not mentioned. As portrayed by the media, this incident was slightly misleading. As mentioned before, according to some sources the event was made to seem much worse than portrayed by others. Therefore, the actual extent of the violence that took place is unclear. Both the offenders and victims are also made unclear in this incident. Although 14 people were arrested, it is said that over 1,500 total were involved; possibly even 3,000, so all who were involved are not mentioned. Moreover, it is said that fist fights broke out but no one was hurt badly enough; also there was no property damage reported, so no actual victims were ever mentioned either.

Media Portrayal

Below are three videos that have been created in reaction to certain events of mob violence.

[Part 1] Second mass Student Protest turns violent in London

[Part 2] Second mass Student Protest turns violent in London
These videos were made in reaction to a student protest that took place in London November 24, 2010. Students were protesting against the rising tuition fees in the university when things got violent.

Media and the Riots - Did the media mess up?

This video was created in order to question the accuracy of media coverage on youths, after the London Riots of August 2011. It seems that youths are being blamed more than anyone for this event.

References

Canova, Brian. (2012). Riot police disperse 1,500 students at UMass-Amherst following Super Bowl. Retrieved from http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/riot_erupts_at_umass_amherst_f_1.html

CBS Boston. (2012). 14 Plead Not Guilty After UMass Super Bowl Riot. Retrieved from http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/02/07/14-plead-not-guilty-after-umass-super-bowl-riot/

Morrison, Jim. (2012). Super Bowl Riots: Patriots Loss Leads to 14 People Arrested At University of Massachusetts-Amherst (VIDEO). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/06/super-bowl-riot-patriots-university-of-massachusetts-amherst_n_1256472.html