What is Murder (United States law)?
Under the [[law]]s of the [[United States|United States of America]], the crime of '''Murder''' can fall under different [[jurisdiction]]s. In some cases, the state [[Prosecutor|prosecutes]] those [[wikt:accuse|accuse]]d of [[murder]]. In other cases, the federal government has jurisdiction. Who the [[victim]] of a murder can also determine who has jurisdiction. The [[military of the United States]] also prosecutes murder under the [[Uniform Code of Military Justice]]. == Jurisdiction == If a [[murder]] is committed within the [[border]]s of a [[U.S. state|state]], that state has jurisdiction. If the [[crime]] is committed in the [[Washington, D.C.|District of Columbia]], the [[Superior Court of the District of Columbia|D.C Superior Court]] has jurisdiction. In cases involving [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] [[property]] or [[employee]]s, the federal courts may have [[wikt:exclusive|exclusive]] jurisdiction.<ref name=Title18>{{cite web |url=http://law.justia.com/us/codes/title18/parti_chapter51_.html |title=Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure: 2010 US Code: US Codes and Statutes: US Law: Justia |publisher=Law.justia.com |date=2011-01-07 |accessdate=2012-12-18 |archive-date=2010-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113042848/http://law.justia.com/us/codes/title18/parti_chapter51_.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The prosecution of murder is similar in [[Australia]]. If the victim is a [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] official, an [[ambassador]], [[Official|consul]] or other foreign official under [[US]] protection, then the federal government has jurisdiction. If the crime took place on federal property or involved crossing [[state lines (United States law)|state lines]] it is under federal jurisdiction. Murder on [[United States Navy|naval]] or U.S. [[flag]]ged [[United States Merchant Marine|merchant vessels]] in [[international waters]] is under federal jurisdiction. This is true also if crime happens on [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. military]] ba