Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Erroneous Voluntary Manslaughter Instruction Results in Reversal of Conviction

U.S. v. Serawop, -- F.3d --, 2005 WL 1324996 (10th Cir. 6/6/05) - Voluntary manslaughter conviction reversed due to failure to instruct the jury on a mental state element for the offense other than "in the heat of passion." To convict of voluntary manslaughter under 18 U.S.C. ยง 1112, the jury must be instructed that the defendant acted in the heat of passion with either (1) a general intent to kill, i.e., that the defendant was aware that the result was practically certain to follow from his conduct regardless of his desire to achieve that result; (2) intent to do serious bodily injury; or (3) depraved heart recklessness. The defendant here was charged with second degree murder after the death of his three-month-old daughter in Indian country and convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

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