Words and their meaning matter a great deal in journalism. Strive to be precise and accurate in word choice.
Case in point: The term "murder" is a legal word and it implies that the crime of murder was committed. It is factually inaccurate to say someone was murdered, until someone is convicted of that crime. It is better to tell your readers how someone was killed (before a conviction). In this case, you could write: Members of the Rhoden family were shot to death ... were fatally shot ... shot in the head .. killed/slain/shot. You could also say they were homicide victims; while that is accurate, it also a bit sterile.
Language is tricky.
Case in point: It would be accurate — and even advisable — to refer to this as a murder case or murder trial. That is what the defendant is charged with and this use is correct because it refers to a crime and not an action.
Confused?
When in doubt, refer to your AP Stylebook. Its entry for homicide/murder is here:
"Homicide is a legal term for slaying or killing.
Murder is malicious, premeditated homicide. Some states define certain homicides as murder if the killing occurs in the course of armed robbery, rape, etc.
Generally speaking, manslaughter is homicide without malice or premeditation.
A homicide should not be described as murder unless a person has been convicted of that charge.
Do not say that a victim was murdered until someone has been convicted in court. Instead, say that a victim was killed or slain. Do not write that X was charged with murdering Y. Use the formal charge murder and, if not already in the story, specify the nature of the killing shooting, stabbing, beating, poisoning, drowning, etc.: Jones was charged with murder in the shooting of his girlfriend.
Examples:
An officer pulled over 29-year-old John White, who was arrested and charged with murder, according to Andrew Johnson, the county sheriff's spokesman.
The 66-year-old amateur photographer has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the slaying of four women.
The killings occurred between 1977 and 1979. Prosecutors say Adams raped, tortured and robbed some of them before killing them.
Cook County Sheriff James Jones says a shooting that left a man and a woman dead appears to be a murder-suicide."
Questions for students:
If you are writing and are not sure about what word to use, what might you do to seek clarity in addition to looking in the Stylebook? Name two things you may want to do to check your word choice.
If I am writing and am not sure what word to use, other than going to the AP Stylebook, I would check court documents referring to the incident that took place. Those documents would allow myself, as a journalist, to know what terminology to use. Legal documents from the police may also be of use, which would hopefully provide clarity as to what occurred.