Voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter are two less serious murder charges that you can face if you cause the death of another person. The element of malice is not a requirement for either of these crimes.
Both of these charges are serious felonies under Georgia law, but they are less serious than a regular murder charge or a felony murder charge. You will not face the death penalty or even life imprisonment if you are convicted of either voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.
What is voluntary manslaughter?
Voluntary manslaughter is typically referred to as a “heat of passion “ crime. The elements of malice and premeditation are absent in a voluntary manslaughter case. A typical example of a voluntary manslaughter case is a wife who unexpectedly discovers her husband in an intimate encounter with another woman. This discovery incites a sudden, violent and irresistible passion in the wife and provokes her to take immediate action that results in the death of her husband. In order to qualify as voluntary manslaughter instead of murder, there must be no delay between the provocation and the killing. In the event that there is a delay between the provocation and the killing, the killing can be attributed to deliberate revenge, and you can be charged with murder. The punishment for voluntary manslaughter is one to 20 years in prison.