I killed it or I have killed it

[Iago315]

Which is more appropriate and why?
I was holding my baby niece in my hands and then she fell asleep. Then I thought: "Damn it, I have killed it."

OR

I was holding my baby niece in my hands and then she fell asleep. Then I thought: "Damn it, I killed it."

 

[bhaisahab]

Which is more appropriate and why?
I was holding my baby niece in my hands and then she fell asleep. Then I thought: "Damn it, I have killed it."

OR

I was holding my baby niece in my hands and then she fell asleep. Then I thought: "Damn it, I killed it."

Neither one is appropriate in my opinion.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Which is more appropriate and why?
I was holding my baby niece in my hands and then she fell asleep. Then I thought: "Damn it, I have killed it."

OR

I was holding my baby niece in my hands and then she fell asleep. Then I thought: "Damn it, I killed it."

At the very least, I would not refer to your niece as "it". She is a "her".

 

[tzfujimino]

Hello.:-D

'in my arms' sounds better to me.

 

[Iago315]

So I the both have killed and killed are wrong?

 

[bhaisahab]

So I the both have killed and killed are wrong?

Can you come up with another example of "did" versus "had done"?

 

[emsr2d2]

The rather bizarre scenario you seem to be trying to put across is "I was holding my baby niece in my arms and she fell asleep. I suddenly thought 'Oh my god, she's dead!' "

There are multiple problems with your original:

1. "In my hands" is unnatural in this context. "In my arms" is the term we normally use.
2. You referred to your niece as "it". She is "her".
3. There was nothing to suggest that you had "killed" the child. You thought she had died. That's different.
4. If you really did think your baby niece had died in your arms, your reaction would be slightly more drastic than "Dammit".

 

[Iago315]

It was a sentence on which I needed clarification, I don`t have a niece.

 

[emsr2d2]

It was a sentence on which I needed clarification, I don`t have a niece.

I'm quite relieved to hear that.