Yesterday, a 25-year-old man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for an accidental shooting. The incident occurred at a hotel in Colorado Springs when the victim and the suspect were both high on
methamphetamine.
According to The Gazette, the gun discharged while the suspected held it. No evidence indicated that the man intended to harm the victim, but a jury found him guilty of manslaughter on Thursday – a crime that can lead to six years in prison.
The suspect turned himself in only a day after the shooting, law enforcement officers reported.
Can manslaughter be an "accident?"
There are two main types of manslaughter: voluntary and involuntary. Simply put, voluntary manslaughter is intentional, involuntary manslaughter is not. Many times voluntary manslaughter is attributed to the "heat of passion," such as a heated argument.
Involuntary manslaughter, on the other hand, is not intentional. In order for the crime to be "involuntary," three factors must be in place:
- The defendant should have known that his / her actions were dangerous to others
- The defendant acted in a way that demonstrated a disregard for human life
- The victim was killed as a direct result of the defendant's reckless behavior
Many people assume that the terms "manslaughter" and "murder" are interchangeable, but this is incorrect. Murder is almost always a deliberate act of violence committed with the intention of killing another person.
Arrested? Speak to an Attorney Now
If you were charged with a crime, such as manslaughter or another violent offense, speak with a member of the legal team at the Samuelson Law Firm today. The firm offers free, no-obligation case evaluations and has more than 15 years of legal experience.