After a critique of the murder offense, the study focuses on an examination of the reform proposals for intentional homicide offenses. Starting from the interim conclusion that a satisfactory solution has not yet been found, the work demonstrates that intentional killings represent an unquantifiable, maximal injustice and fundamentally also a maximal guilt related to this quantum of injustice. Within the methodological concept of the type definition, the work utilizes the doctrine of degrees of injustice and gradations of guilt to differentiate between murder and manslaughter at the level of sentencing in advance of justification, exclusion of guilt, and excuse reasons.