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"Voluntary manslaughter" is a killing that would otherwise be murder, but because of a recognized mitigating factor is punished as something less. It has all t
by sandworm 12y ago
"Voluntary manslaughter" is a killing that would otherwise be murder, but because of a recognized mitigating factor is punished as something less. It has all the elements of murder (killing with aforethought) but we choose not to punish it as such. For instance: The killing was provoked.
"Involuntary manslaughter" is a totally different thing in that there is no malice aforethought. Usually these are cased of responsible people failing to act, such as a life guard watching someone drown who they should save.
Neither requires a motive, nor does murder.
- bcgraham 12y agoI would expect that a lifeguard watching someone drown would qualify as depraved indifference and would be tried as second-degree murder (in most US jurisdictions).