ABSTRACT
Introduction Charges of involuntary manslaughter arise where the defendant causes the victim’s death but without the intention to kill or cause serious bodily harm required for the mens rea of murder. Hence the use of the word ‘involuntary’ to distinguish from cases of voluntary manslaughter, where such intention does exist but other defences partially negate liability. There are essentially three types of involuntary manslaughter and the cases below set out how these three offences have been developed by the common law.
