Legal Definitions - Manslaughter

Manslaughter is a type of killing that is less serious than murder. It is the act of killing another person without intending to do so or without planning it in advance.

There are two types of manslaughter:

• Voluntary manslaughter: This is when someone kills another person in the heat of passion, usually in response to something that provoked them. For example, if someone walks in on their spouse cheating and kills the other person in a fit of rage, it could be considered voluntary manslaughter.
• Involuntary manslaughter: This is when someone causes the death of another person through negligence or recklessness. For example, if someone is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and causes a fatal car accident, it could be considered involuntary manslaughter.

Under the Model Penal Code, manslaughter can also include homicide that would be murder, but is committed under extreme emotional or mental distress for which there is a reasonable explanation or excuse.

Here are some examples of manslaughter:

• A construction worker accidentally drops a heavy tool from a high building, and it hits and kills a pedestrian below.
• A doctor administers the wrong medication to a patient, causing their death.
• A person is driving recklessly and causes a fatal car accident.
• A person gets into a physical fight with someone and unintentionally kills them.

These examples illustrate how manslaughter can occur without the intent to kill. In each case, the person did not plan to cause the death of another person, but their actions resulted in someone's death.