Although most people are never in a situation where they are present when someone is killed, it does unfortunately happen. Depending on the nature of the death, criminal charges can be brought forth against someone who caused the death. In situations where a death occurs due to the fault of someone else, the event is called a homicide.

What is a Homicide?

A homicide is defined as, “When someone takes the life of another, regardless of intent or other details surrounding the incident.”

In many states, homicides are divided into overlapping legal categories, including murder, manslaughter, and justifiable homicide depending on the circumstances of the death.

In North Carolina, the state has a distinction between murder and manslaughter. This is determined by the state of mind of the accused at the time the crime was committed.

Manslaughter Charges in North Carolina

Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without express or implied malice. This means the killing did not occur with—intent to seriously harm or kill, or extreme, reckless disregard for life. The absence of malice aforethought means that manslaughter involves less moral blame than either first or second degree murder.

An example of manslaughter is a case in which a drunk driver strikes and kills a pedestrian with their vehicle. The act was not intentional, but the driver acted negligent by operating the vehicle while intoxicated.

Since manslaughter is a serious crime, it does carry a hefty penalty, although the punishment for it is generally less than that for murder.

Types of Manslaughter Cases in North Carolina

North Carolina has 3 categories for manslaughter charges.

  • Voluntary manslaughter – Passion killing, when someone is killed in the heat of the moment
  • Involuntary manslaughter – The killing was by accidental means, but caused directly by the actions of another person
  • Vehicular manslaughter – When negligent driving actions directly cause the death of another person (failing to yield to a pedestrian, etc)

 

 

Voluntary Manslaughter

This is often called a “heat of passion” crime.

Voluntary manslaughter occurs when a person:

  • is strongly provoked or experiences emotions under circumstances that could similarly provoke a reasonable person
  • kills in the heat of passion aroused by the circumstances

The circumstances leading to the killing must be the kind that would cause a reasonable person to become emotionally or mentally disturbed to the point to commit the crime.

For “heat of passion” to exist, the person must not have had sufficient time to “settle down” from the incident. For the killing to not be considered first or second degree murder the concession of human weakness. Killers who act in the heat of passion may kill intentionally, but the emotional context is a mitigating factor that reduces their moral blameworthiness.

The classic example of voluntary manslaughter involves a husband who comes home unexpectedly to find his wife committing adultery. The sight of the affair is often considered enough to provoke the husband into such a heat of passion that he kills one or both of the participants at that moment, a judge or jury might very well consider the killing to be voluntary manslaughter.

On the spectrum of homicides, this offense lies somewhere in between the killing of another with malice aforethought (aka, murder) and the excusable, justified, or privileged taking of life that does not constitute a crime, such as some instances of self-defense.

Involuntary Manslaughter

Involuntary manslaughter often refers to unintentional homicide from criminally negligent or reckless conduct. It can also refer to an unintentional killing through commission of a crime other than a felony.

The subtleties between murder and manslaughter are very difficult to find with involuntary manslaughter, particularly because an accidental killing through extreme recklessness can constitute second degree murder. An experienced Raleigh criminal lawyer will recognize the distinctions and be able to conduct a case that is best suited for the charges.

What must be Proven for a Guilty Verdict for Involuntary Manslaughter?

Three elements must be satisfied in order for someone to be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter:

  1. Someone was killed as a direct result of the actions of the defendant
  2. The act either was inherently dangerous to others or done with reckless disregard for human life
  3. The defendant knew or should have known his or her conduct was a threat to the lives of others

Charges of involuntary manslaughter are often issued in cases of car crash fatalities, caused by a motorist under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. While the motorist did not have the intention to kill anyone, his or her negligence by driving under impairment is enough to justify the charge.

Vehicular Manslaughter

Vehicular manslaughter is the unlawful killing of someone with a vehicle through negligence or reckless driving.

Many factors can determine the severity of the punishment for vehicular manslaughter and varying circumstances of the accident can determine the penalties for a conviction.

  • Prior vehicle related offenses (DWI’s, Careless and Wreckless, etc.)
  • Driving with a suspended license
  • Blood alcohol level of the driver at the time of accident
  • Presence of a minor in the vehicle

The following are some of the punishments:

  • Prison term and/or probation
  • Drivers license revocation
  • Large fines, expenses and court fees
  • Vehicle confiscation

In vehicular manslaughter cases, the courts consider all evidence presented by a North Carolina prosecutor against the defendant.

Evidence can include:

  • Accident reports
  • Breathalyzer or blood alcohol test results
  • Witness statements
  • Arrest reports
  • Forensics
  • Other types of evidence pertinent to the case

Vehicular manslaughter charges may follow any death which results from:

  • Driving while speeding
  • Talking on a cell phone
  • Texting
  • Changing the stereo
  • Driving recklessly
  • Running a red light
  • or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

When is a Homicide Not a Crime?

Homicide is not always a crime, such as in cases of self-defense or the state-sanctioned execution of certain convicted criminals.

What Determines Criminal Homicide?

Criminal homicides involve either negligence or willful intent.

What Type of Sentencing is Common for a Homicide Case in North Carolina.

North Carolina enforces the death penalty for some instances of 1st degree murder. However, Sentences also vary widely, depending on the severity of the crime and other mitigating factors. For example, some states sentence convicted murderers to death but provide psychiatric treatment to those acquitted by reason of insanity.

Factors that Aggravate or Mitigate a Manslaughter Charge

During the criminal case, the prosecution will look at factors that will effect sentencing. These factors can carry enough weight to help reduce the severity of the penalty should a guilty verdict be assessed.

Aggravating Factors

  • Brutality of crime
  • Prior criminal history
  • Victims state during time of incident

Mitigating Factors

  • Lack of criminal history
  • Acceptance of responsibility

Penalties for Manslaughter Cases

The varying degrees of severity in manslaughter cases ultimately dictate what a sentence will be. A manslaughter conviction sentencing may mean life imprisonment, but also there is the potential for lesser sentencing, depending on the presence of aggravating or mitigating factors. However, there are a few standards that can be viewed to determine the potential sentence.

Voluntary Manslaughter

a Class D Felony and carries up to 40 years of prison time and major fines.

Involuntary Manslaughter

a Class F Felony that carries up to 20 years in prison and major fines.

Vehicular Manslaughter

Vehicular manslaughter can range from a misdemeanor to felony. The conduct of the driver during the killing determines the weight and severity of the charge.

North Carolina classifies Vehicular Manslaughter committed while intoxicated as a separate, Class F felony which can result in 6 years of prison time, major fines, and other issues that can be detrimental to your future.

 

 

Defenses for a Manslaughter Case in Raleigh

In order to successfully defend against a charge of manslaughter, a few elements should be presented to your attorney. The answers to these questions are important to piece together the best defense possible.

  • Was the killing an accident?
  • Were you acting in self-defense when the death occurred?
  • Did you intend to commit the crime?
  • Did you act with malice?

Self Defense

Perfect – there is a reasonable need for deadly force to protect ones life and involves no wrongdoing on the part of the defendant

Imperfect – an unreasonable belief that deadly force is necessary, some bad behavior on the part of the defendant, or both.

When Self Defense is Not Justifiable for the Use of Deadly Force

An example of imperfect self defense would be if the defendant kills in self-defense, but was the original aggressor in the situation that led to the homicide. Additionally, the state could potentially charge the killing as voluntary manslaughter.

In a case such as this, a claim of perfect self-defense is the only viable claim available. In effect, an imperfect self-defense claim is a justifiable admission that the defendant did in fact commit voluntary manslaughter.

Accidental Death

Unfortunately, in life fatal accidents happen. If the death is the result of an accident, a voluntary manslaughter defendant could possibly achieve a reduction to an involuntary manslaughter charge.

Insanity

If a defendant meets the legal definition for insanity at the time of the homicide, the justice system will not hold them accountable for their actions. An insanity defense is based on the defendant’s inability to understand the result of their actions or distinguish between right and wrong.

Intoxication

Intoxication won’t usually excuse a person from criminal behavior unless the intoxication was involuntary. *instances of being drugged without consent

A strong defense attorney might succeed in dropping the charge to one of manslaughter from a higher murder charge, but intoxication doesn’t offer a very good defense to a direct manslaughter charge. A homicide by intoxication is one of the situations the crime of manslaughter was developed to address.

Innocence

In our judicial system a prosecutor carries the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant is guilty of the crime charged. Until that time, all those charged of a crime are protected by the constitution to be presumed innocent. During a trial defense, a defendant can claim an alibi or attack the validity of the prosecutions evidence. If the jury finds that the defendant has raised a reasonable doubt about their guilt, they will move to acquit the accused.

Have You Been Arrested in Raleigh?

Whether you face an investigation for shaken baby syndrome, an alcohol-related fatality, or another alleged killing, our Raleigh criminal defense attorneys we will fight for your case. Our goal is to help you resume your life by proving innocence or to drop or reduce your charges, which can, in some cases, mean reducing a first degree murder down to involuntary manslaughter.

Other Areas Of Criminal Law

Our criminal defense attorneys are able to represent you for a variety of charges, including:

Contact a Raleigh Criminal Lawyer about Your Manslaughter Case

If you have been charged with manslaughter, then our Raleigh criminal attorneys are ready to serve you. Since 1957, the criminal law team at Kirk, Kirk, Howell, Cutler & Thomas, LLP have helped individuals accused of violent crimes.

If you have been charged with manslaughter then our Raleigh criminal lawyers are only a call away. You can schedule a consultation with a Raleigh criminal attorney by calling (919) 615-2473 or completing the online contact form below.

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