What is the difference between manslaughter and murder?

Question

I always thought they were the same thing. What is the difference?

Answer 1

Intent is the difference.   If the intent was to kill, or to injure someone so severly that they COULD be killed, then the act is murder.  If the death comes about unintentionally, but in a situation where criminal behaviour took place, it is manslaughter.

An exception to this is the law in many US tates, whereby anyone engaged in criminal activity, such as a robbery, is guilty of murder if anyone is killed.  This actually results in the somewhat ridiculous situation where a person can be charged with murder if one of his accomplices trips and falls off a roof and dies.  The was no intent to kill or injure, the person is not even involved in the action that results in the death, yet because of the underlying criminal behaviour, he is guilty of murder.

Answer 2

The difference is intent.

If it looks like you deliberately killed the person it's murder.

If not, then its manslaughter.

Except in Tennessee where shooting someone in the back is still considered manslaughter.

Answer 3

Manslaughter is a less severe charge for killing someone, compared to murder. And other things too, people above help named.

There is voluntary like when you are in a fight with someone and you kill them. And involuntary like if you hit and kill someone with your car.

I learned the difference at school but I pretty much forgot.

Answer 4

Murder requires planning, manslaughter happens in the spur of the moment, usually called "the heat of passion."  An example, is when someone finds their spouse with another person and shoots them, etc.  

In both cases the accused intended to kill the other person, but "malice aforethought" is required in murder.  

You non-lawyers should not be giving legal advice.

Answer 5

Murder is premeditated or planned.

Manslaughter is the taking of a life through an accident that you could have avoided.  Like drunk driving, ignoring safety measures.... etc.

Answer 6

Muder Is Killin

Manslaughter Is Like Chopping Someones Head Off With An Axe

One Manslaughter Account Was This Guy Chopped These Little Girls Heads Off With A Helicopter

  See The Difference?

Answer 7

Murder is deliberate; 1st degree, premeditated, 2nd degree, not planned but intentional.

Manslaughter is not deliberate but causes a death.

But a killing even if it was not planned or intentional could become murder rather than manslaughter under certain conditions, like commission of another crime.

So if you go to rob a bank, not planning to kill anyone, but you carry a gun just for show, then when you happen to hit someone with a stray bullet you just fired to make noise, it might be murder cause you planned the robbery, at least.

Answer 8

i think murder you intended to kill them.. and did

manslaughter you accidentally killed them but there was no intent.

or you plea bargened for the lesser charge of manslaughter to guarantee your conviction when the state had a weaker case against you.