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 | This page in a nutshell: Articles titled "Murder of [victim]" are a possible solution to the notability guidelines that would bar articles on the perpetrator or victim. |
Tragically, murder is not that unusual. In some countries, including the United States, on average multiple people die by homicide every hour. Murder inflicts great loss in the lives of loved ones and damage in the community where it has occurred, as well as scaring others who live in those communities.
At the same time, the subject of murder fascinates quite a lot of people. A homicide is often followed by an investigation that utilizes forensic science and other techniques in an effort to determine how it occurred. If a suspect is identified and evidence is found there may be a trial and, if there is a conviction, a sentencing. Appeals of the conviction may follow. News coverage may be local, but some cases will receive national or even international coverage. In some cases the events may later be described in books or in a television or movie production. The greater the news coverage, the more likely a homicide is to meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines.
Not all homicides or murders are notable events. Many cities experience hundreds of homicides each year, and some experience thousands. Most homicides receive some local coverage. However, for an event to be an appropriate subject of encyclopedic coverage, a lot more than such routine coverage is required. Guidelines on events require continued coverage in order to be notable.
Factors that are relevant to the notability of a murder include there being a large volume of news coverage beyond the local area of its occurrence and the continuation of media attention for a lengthy period of time thereafter, a highly publicized investigation or trial, articles or other media coverage about the case long after the case has been closed, coverage on a TV series, a movie or documentary being made about the case, a law being passed as a result of the crime, or other lasting effects.
If an article is created about a notable murder, the general protocol would be to title the article "Murder of [victim]". Such a title focuses not on the perpetrator or victim themselves, but on the event, since the creation of such an article makes the presumption that the event is notable as opposed to the perpetrator or victim.