Unlawful Act Manslaughter Flashcards
A person is guilty of unlawful act manslaughter if…
he commits an unlawful criminal act, which is objectively dangerous in that it is likely to cause ‘some harm’, and causes death with the MR of that criminal act
If D does not satisfy all 4 elements of the crime, the death is classified as what?
‘accidental’
Lowe 1973
must be an act, an omission is insufficient
must be an act, an omission is insufficient
Lowe 1973
Lamb 1967
The act must be unlawful
The act must be unlawful
Lamb 1967
- The unlawful act can be committed against a person
- The specific physical injury doesn’t have to be foreseen
JM and SM 2012
JM and SM 2012
- The unlawful act can be committed against a person
- The specific physical injury doesn’t have to be foreseen
The unlawful act can be committed against property
Goodfellow 1986
Case in which burglary was a sufficient unlawful act
Watson 1989
Goodfellow 1986
The unlawful act can be committed against property
Case in which arson was a sufficient unlawful act
Goodfellow 1986
What must the unlawful act be?
dangerous in that it is likely to cause ‘some harm’
Unlawful acts that have been successfully prosecuted
- Arson
- Criminal damage
- Burglary
Case in which criminal damage was a sufficient unlawful act
Newbury and Jones 1976