Unlawful Act Manslaughter

• unlawful act manslaughter- where the defendant causes a death through doing an unlawful act that is objectively dangerous with the necessary mens rea for the unlawful act.
• maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter is life imprisonment.
• R V Lamb- illustrates that there must be a criminal unlawful act.

  Wasn't an assault as they didn't fear any violence as they were friends.
• Act must be dangerous- R V Church
• Church test:

  'such as all sober and reasonable people would inevitably recognise must subject the other person to at least the risk of some harm albeit not serious harm.'
• R V J M and S M

  This case illustrates the need for the defendant to foresee some harm but not the particular harm.
• Acts against property- R V Goodfellow

  Unlawful act can be aimed at property.
• R V Dawson- fear can trigger shock which is physical harm.
• Must be proven that the defendant caused the unlawful act manslaughter and that the unlawful act caused the death.
• novus actus interveniens- R V Kennedy
• DPP V Newbury and Jones- Defendant must have the mens rea for the unlawful act to be found liable for the manslaughter.