Murdrum

In old English law

During the times of the Danes, and afterwards till the reign of Edward III., mujrdrum was the killing of a man in a secret manner, and in that it differed from simple homicide. When a man was thus killed, and he was unknown, by the laws of Canute he was presumed to be a Dane, and the vill was compelled to pay forty marks for his death. After the Conquest, a similar law was made in favor of Frenchmen, which was abolished by 3 Edw. III. The fine formerly imposed in England upon a person who had committed homicide per infortunium or se defendendo.

Prin. Pen. Law 219, note (r).