[dragonwriter]

> I thought murder was the killing of a human by another human?

No, the killing of a human by a (legal) person (which includes both natural persons and all other things subject, in their own being, to the law as an actor rather than mere property, such as corporations) is homicide. For the question to even be coherent, one must presuppose that HAL is considered a legal person — a subject of legal responsibility — but humanity is not required.

Murder is unlawful (phrased another way, “without legal excuse”, self-defense is an excuse, for instance) homicide with malice aforethought. (“malice aforethought” includes, but is not limited to, intent to kill; see, e.g., the felony murder rule, depraved heart murder, etc.)