manslaughter
Killing without intent
Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a person without premeditation or malice—the element that distinguishes it from murder.
Voluntary manslaughter occurs in the heat of passion or under extreme provocation.
Involuntary manslaughter results from criminal negligence or recklessness: The drunk driver was charged with manslaughter.
The distinction determines severity of punishment.
Done by choice
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- vehicularOf or involving automobiles
- constructivePromoting positive development
- unlawful actProhibited conduct
gross negligence · reckless · second-degree · culpable · misdemeanor · heat of passion · provocation · diminished capacity
Formal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defendantParty facing charges
- pleaFormal request or defense
trial · verdict · acquittal · conviction · testimony · evidence · witness · jury
Unintended harmful event
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- misadventureUnfortunate incident or accident
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unpremeditatedWithout advance planning
unintended · inadvertent · accidental · lack of intent · tragic · collision · spontaneous
Causing death deliberately
- deathCessation of life
- victimOne harmed by another
- fatalityDeath from accident
- casualtyPerson harmed in disaster
unlawful · criminal · homicidal · lethal · mortal · perpetrator · decedent · cause of death
Careless disregard for danger
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- inattentionLack of focus
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- omissionFailure to include
heedlessness · inadvertence · imprudence · disregard · oversight · gross negligence · duty of care · breach
Confinement in jail
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- imprisonmentLegal detention in jail
- probationSupervised trial period
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
community service · fine · parole · custody · confinement · punishment · prison · correctional
voluntary
Done by choice
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- vehicularOf or involving automobiles
- constructivePromoting positive development
unlawful act · gross negligence · reckless · second-degree · culpable · misdemeanor · heat of passion · provocation · diminished capacity
indictment
Formal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defendantParty facing charges
plea · trial · verdict · acquittal · conviction · testimony · evidence · witness · jury · judge
accident
Unintended harmful event
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- misadventureUnfortunate incident or accident
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
unpremeditated · unintended · inadvertent · accidental · lack of intent · tragic · collision · spontaneous
killing
Causing death deliberately
casualty · unlawful · criminal · homicidal · lethal · mortal · perpetrator · decedent · cause of death
recklessness
Careless disregard for danger
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- inattentionLack of focus
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
omission · heedlessness · inadvertence · imprudence · disregard · oversight · gross negligence · duty of care · breach · foreseeability
incarceration
Confinement in jail
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- imprisonmentLegal detention in jail
- probationSupervised trial period
restitution · community service · fine · parole · custody · confinement · punishment · prison · correctional · suspended sentence
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- British CrimeJack the Ripper, Scotland Yard, Old Bailey, Met Police, Burke and Hare
- crime datacrime trends, arrest rate, incarceration rate, violent crime rate, property crime
- death lawdeath certificate, death certificates, death tax, death penalty, death benefits
- Torah lawsTen Commandments, Sabbath observance, kosher laws, dietary laws, tefillin
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
manslaughterfirst-degree murder
Planned, intentional killing
premeditated murder · assassination · murder · murder in the first degree · contract killing
manslaughterlifesaving
Preserving human existence
life preservation · rescue · resuscitation · deliverance · salvation
manslaughterheroism
Exceptional courage under duress
justifiable homicide · self-defense · innocence · blamelessness · acquittal
- voluntary manslaughterKilling with mitigating circumstances
- vehicular manslaughterUnlawful killing via automobile
- involuntary manslaughterUnintentional unlawful killing
- corporate manslaughterBusiness negligence causing death
- manslaughter chargeLegal accusation for unintentional killing