magistrate n. CAREFUL a false friend, see judge
(Eng) A person who sits in the Magistrates' Court and makes findings about law and fact, imposes

sentences and awards damages.
(US) In the federal court system, a magistrate is a person who is appointed to serve as a representative of the court and is often given many responsibilities that would otherwise be performed by the federal judge.

Magistrates' Court

(Eng) The Court where criminal proceedings start and which deals with the less serious offences and sends the more serious offences to a higher court to be dealt with. These courts deal with civil claims involving property up to $50,000 and with limited family law matters.

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manslaughter

n. The unlawful but unintended killing of a person. — see murder, homicide

  If you have too much to drink and cause an accident in which someone is killed, you might be charged with manslaughter.

 

misdemeanor

n.(UK) a minor criminal offense, formerly contrasted with a felony.
(US) a crime of lesser seriousness than a felony where the punishment might be a fine or prison for less than one year.
  Woody Allen made a film called Crimes and Misdemeanors in 1989.
  Macaulay Culkin, who is best known for his role in the film Home Alone, was arraigned on two misdemeanor charges in Oklahoma County District Court.

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murder

n. Intentional homicide (the taking of another person's life), without legal justification or provocation.

  A farmer who opened fire on two burglars who broke into his remote farmhouse has been found guilty of murder.
v.   A 23-year-old man and two friends were charged with conspiring to murder the young man's mother, authorities said.

murderer n. someone who commits murder