Involuntary manslaughter is a criminal offence that involves the unintentional killing of another person, but with some degree of culpable negligence or recklessness on the part of the offender. Involuntary manslaughter is considered less serious than murder or voluntary manslaughter because it lacks the element of intent to kill or cause serious harm. There are different types of involuntary manslaughter, including:
Reckless manslaughter: This occurs when a person causes the death of another person by acting in a reckless manner that is a serious departure from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances.
Gross negligence manslaughter: This occurs when a person causes the death of another person through a grossly negligent act or omission, such as a doctor who fails to provide proper medical care or a driver who operates a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Constructive manslaughter: Also known as unlawful act manslaughter, it is a criminal offence that occurs when a person unintentionally kills another person while committing an unlawful act such as assault or theft that is not inherently dangerous, but that leads to the death of another person.
You can learn more about this topic and relevant case law with our Criminal Law notes.
