What degree of murder/manslaughter would this be?

Question

I know Involuntary Manslaughter is an unintentional killing that results from recklessness or criminal negligence, or from an unlawful act and is a crime in which the victim's death is unintended. But lets say you were walking with a friend and all of a sudden you trip over something and as a natural reaction you grab onto something to break your fall but that something happened to be your friend and they fall with you, they end up banging their head on a rock and die and you are perfectly ok. Would this be a form of manslaughter and if so what kind?

You werent being reckless or negligent like Involuntary manslaughter is defined

This didnt really happen its a question I have thought about for a while

Answer 1

Actually,I was kinda involved in something like this.Years ago at a party,this girl bumped into a guy who happened to be standing at the top of a flight of stairs,and he lost his footing,fell down the stairs and died.

We all had to make statements,of course.The cops kept asking us if there was any history between the two of them,what kind of person she was,etc.

She was arrested a couple days later,charged with involuntary manslaughter.

But,because of the public outcry,the D.A. dropped the charges a few months later.I don't think she did anything wrong.

Answer 2

Depending on which jurisdiction you are in. In Singapore,
'manslaughter' refers to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. From the way you describe it, if I am the one studying the evidence so as to decide which charge to prefer, I will not decide on a murder charge.

Simply put, for a criminal offence to take place, there must be at
least 4 parts: 1. Intention 2. Action 3. Link and 4. Outcome. In your scenario, there must first be an intention to cause death. Second, there must be action taken on your part to cause the death, third, the death and your action must link and finally, the outcome (the death) is caused by your intention (to cause death).

Give a simple example, you are driving and some car hit into your car causing your car to move forward and you hit a pedestrian. You cannot be charged for murder.

One question to ponder: Alan is a lifeguard by occupation, one day after he knocks off from work, he took a stroll on the beach and saw a girl struggling in water. Alan did not save her. The girl drowned. Can Alan be charged for murder? Will your answer be different if Alan is not a lifeguard by occupation?

Answer 3

I believe the answer is in your question. It appears to me to be involuntary manslaughter. The death was not intended, but happened as a result the individual's action in the situation.

Answer 4

Yes it is Involuntary Manslaughter and with a good lawyer you probably wouldnt do any time in a case like that

Answer 5

Involuntary Manslaughter in California. You wouldn't even be charged.

Answer 6

Well a lot of thought would go into this. You can immediatly rule out murder if you have witnesses like other friends. Id say if the prosecutors really want you, you might get involuntary mansluaghter.

Answer 7

That sounds like manslaughter to me, but it seriously depends on the circumstances, like 1) how alert are you to stuff on the path. It's different if you're walking on level ground vs. say hanging off side of a mountain 2) did you take any precautions to avoid such circumstances that COULD have lead to this (i.e. did you pick a clear lighted path, and so on).

Answer 8

Thats why this us of a is a great place by using fact inspite of the indisputable fact which you are the definate minority in this project you have the liberty to voice your opinion no remember how completely stupid it is. it is likewise a solid project that maximum of usa voters don't sense the comparable way you do by using fact there are definately diverse levels of homicide besides there would desire to be. squaddies that kill in protection of this us of a are no longer murderers they are hero's who combat for the suitable for idiots such as you to spew your rhetoric.and save this great us of a loose from tyranny and people who wish us all lifeless. someone who methodically plans out the homicide of yet another is definately greater henious than the guy who in against the regulation of interest kills yet another person by using an extremely undesirable determination and absence of self administration, the two would desire to be positioned away yet no longer for the comparable quantity of time. someone who murders a clerk in the time of a theft and not basically takes the money yet then acts in a chilly blooded cruel way and comes to a decision to shoot and kill the guy robbed is likewise a various animal. i assume you think of the guy who abducts a splash 5 365 days previous female and molest her and then buries her alive would desire to get the comparable sentence as somebody who comes living house to discover his suitable buddy in mattress together with his spouse so he shoots the guy. it isn't the comparable. And this technique we've in this us of a is in step with regulations and regulations that are voted on and exceeded via the individuals who make up this us of a and could stay in it and that contains assigning which levels of crimes greater healthy which point of punishment. in case you're outraged pass stay interior the middle east and permit me comprehend how their justice device works out for you once you steel a loaf of bread considering you're hungry by using corrupt government shape then once you're caught you no longer basically are undesirable yet you get your hand chopped off. i think of US air has discounted flights, be chuffed to hop on a one way coach on a similar time as the charges are low.

Answer 9

If it's as you describe, I'd say it was an unfortunate accident and no charges would be brought. Might take a while to prove it though.

Answer 10

This is stricly an unfortunate ACCIDENT. No malice, negligence, or criminal intent is intended here.