guilty of killing

USAGE SUMMARY

"guilty of killing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referencing a person who has been found guilty of a homicide or murder in a criminal court. Example: John Smith was found guilty of killing his wife in the court of law.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Brady was also found guilty of killing John Kilbride, 12, and Ms. Hindley was convicted for sheltering her lover after that killing.

The New York Times

Orestes cannot therefore be guilty of killing a family member.

The Guardian

Mrs Patel was found not guilty of killing her three babies.

The Guardian

A special military court found the three guilty of killing Mazen Faqha.

The Washington Post

He is guilty of killing the Arab, and he never denies this.

The Guardian - Books

"My complaint targets those guilty of killing my husband," Ms Audin said yesterday.

The Guardian

This man was found guilty of killing 270 people and showed no remorse.

The Guardian

A Cairo court has found four senior policemen not guilty of killing protesters during last year's uprising, AP reports.

The Guardian

Sign an executive order calling for the death penalty for anyone found guilty of killing a police officer.

The Washington Post

A Brooklyn man was found guilty of killing a woman as she jogged in a Queens park in 2016.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

After all, Miss Woodward was found guilty of killing while Mr Simpson, back in 1995, was famously acquitted.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "guilty of killing" in contexts where you want to emphasize the legal culpability for taking a life, rather than just the act of causing death.

Common error

Avoid using "guilty of killing" to describe someone before a formal legal verdict has been reached. Instead, use phrases like "accused of killing" or "suspected of killing" to maintain accuracy and avoid defamation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "guilty of killing" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, indicating a state of being legally culpable for causing a death. Ludwig's examples show it's used to describe the outcome of a legal process, specifically a finding of guilt.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "guilty of killing" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe someone who has been legally determined to have unlawfully caused another person's death. Ludwig AI validates this, confirming its status as a standard expression. Predominantly found in news and media sources, the phrase conveys a legal determination and should be used carefully to avoid misattributing guilt before a formal verdict. Alternatives such as "convicted of homicide" or "responsible for the death" may be suitable depending on the specific context. Ensure accuracy and clarity when using this phrase to maintain objectivity and avoid potential legal implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

convicted of murder

Replaces "killing" with the specific crime of "murder" and focuses on the conviction aspect.

convicted of homicide

Replaces "killing" with the more formal term "homicide" and focuses on the conviction aspect.

culpable in the death

Uses "culpable" instead of "guilty", indicating blameworthiness.

adjudged a killer

Simplifies the phrase while still conveying the core meaning of being legally determined to have killed someone.

responsible for the death

Shifts the focus to responsibility rather than guilt, offering a broader perspective.

found liable for the death

More suitable in civil cases, emphasizing legal responsibility.

responsible for causing death

Emphasizes the act of causing death rather than being directly "guilty".

held accountable for the demise

A more formal phrasing, replacing "death" with "demise" and "guilty" with "accountable".

condemned for the slaying

Uses a more dramatic term "slaying" and "condemned" emphasizing moral disapproval.

implicated in the fatality

Focuses on involvement in a death event, avoiding direct assertion of guilt.

FAQs

How is "guilty of killing" used in a sentence?

The phrase "guilty of killing" is used to describe someone who has been legally determined to have unlawfully caused another person's death. For example: "The jury found the defendant "guilty of killing" the victim".

What are some alternatives to "guilty of killing"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "guilty of killing" include phrases like "convicted of murder", "responsible for the death", or "culpable in the death".

Is there a difference between "guilty of manslaughter" and "guilty of killing"?

Yes, "guilty of manslaughter" specifies that the killing was unlawful but lacked malice aforethought, while ""guilty of killing"" is a broader term that does not specify the level of intent or culpability.

When is it appropriate to use "guilty of killing" vs. "responsible for a death"?

"Guilty of killing" implies a legal determination of guilt in an unlawful death. "Responsible for a death" can be used more broadly, even in cases where the death may not have been unlawful or where legal guilt hasn't been established.