Manslaughter

Manslaughter is a serious felony crime in Minnesota. There are many different kinds of manslaughter crimes, ranging from intentional “heat of passion” homicide to causing the death of another by selling or delivering a controlled substance. Manslaughter is divided into two broad categories: First Degree Manslaughter and Second Degree Manslaughter. If you have been charged with manslaughter, contact us today for a free no-cost consultation.

FIRST DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER

The following acts constitute First Degree Manslaughter under Minnesota law:

Intentionally causing the death of another person in the heat of passion provoked by such words or acts of another as would provoke a person of ordinary self-control under like circumstances, provided that the crying of a child does not constitute provocation

Committing assault and causing the death of another or causing the death of another in committing or attempting to commit a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor offense with such force and violence that death of or great bodily harm to any person is reasonably foreseeable, and murder in the first or second degree was not committed thereby

Intentionally causing the death of another person because the actor is coerced by threats made by someone other than the actor’s coconspirator and which cause the actor reasonably to believe that the act performed by the actor is the only means of preventing imminent death to the actor or another

Proximately causing the death of another, without intent to cause death by, directly or indirectly, unlawfully selling, giving away, bartering, delivering, exchanging, distributing, or administering a controlled substance classified in Schedule III, IV, or V

Causing the death of another in committing or attempting to commit malicious punishment of a child, and murder in the first, second, or third degree is not committed thereby

A person convicted of First Degree Manslaughter faces a statutory maximum sentence of imprisonment of 15 years, a $30,000 fine, or both. Keep in mind that the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines will instruct on what the appropriate sentence will be in any given case.

SECOND DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER

The following acts constitute Second Degree Manslaughter under Minnesota law:

Causing death by culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another

Causing death by shooting another with a firearm or other dangerous weapon as a result of negligently believing the other to be a deer or other animal

Causing death by setting a spring gun, pit fall, deadfall, snare, or other like dangerous weapon or device

Causing death by negligently or intentionally permitting any animal, known by the person to have vicious propensities or to have caused great or substantial bodily harm in the past, to run uncontrolled off the owner’s premises, or negligently failing to keep it properly confined

Causing death by committing or attempting to committing the crime of neglect or endangerment of a child, and murder in the first, second, or third degree is not committed thereby

A person convicted of Second Degree Manslaughter faces a statutory maximum sentence of imprisonment of 10 years, a $20,000 fine, or both. Keep in mind that the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines will instruct on what the appropriate sentence will be in any given case.

The attorneys at Lundgren & Johnson, PSC are here for you. We have handled some of the most difficult prosecutions in the state. If you have been charged with manslaughter in any of Minnesota’s 87 counties, we are here ready and equipped to begin the hard work of defending you. Contact us today for a free consultation about your case. At our firm, we work hard for you.