uam - the offence

• unlawful act manslaughter is an involuntary manslaughter offence
• involuntary manslaughter means that the defendant has caused the death but doesn’t have the mens rea for murder
• sometimes uam is referred to as constructive manslaughter because liability is constructed from the initial unlawful act
• uam is contained entirely within common law
• uam is an indictable offence with a maximum sentence of life, although this is not mandatory. sentencing is discretionary