Legal Definitions - Voluntary manslaughter

Voluntary manslaughter is when someone kills another person without planning it beforehand or intending to do so. It is not done with malice or evil intent. Instead, it is usually done in the heat of the moment or as a result of being provoked.

For example, if someone comes home and finds their spouse in bed with another person, they may become so angry and upset that they kill one or both of them. This would be considered voluntary manslaughter because the person did not plan to kill anyone, but instead acted impulsively due to the intense emotions they were feeling.

Another example could be a person who is being physically attacked and in the process of defending themselves, they accidentally kill their attacker. This would also be considered voluntary manslaughter because the person did not plan to kill anyone, but instead acted in self-defense.

These examples illustrate the definition of voluntary manslaughter because in both cases, the person did not plan or intend to kill anyone. Instead, they acted impulsively due to intense emotions or in self-defense.