[Derek]

Although in some cases I'm aware of there was an abundance of evidence against the accused (excellent CCTV, multiple eyewitnesses, strong DNA, the accused still wearing the bloodstained clothing a few days later...) but culpable homicide pleas have been accepted instead of murder as 'they didn't mean to kill them'

Now I'm not a doctor but when the Scottish definition of murder includes the phrase
'a willful act so reckless as to show utter disregard for the consequences' I'd say stabbing someone in the neck, jumping up and down on their head or pushing them into a flooded quarry would count as murder.