defending murder and manslaughter

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Murder is one of the most serious crimes in English law.  Criminal solicitors will advise you that murder carries a mandatory life sentence, if convicted.

Criminal Solicitors specialising in defending murder cases will advise you that Murder is the intentional killing of another person and is punishable by the harshest sentence that the law allows.

Criminal solicitors who defend allegations of murder will advise you that Murder is defined  as the unlawful killing of a human being under the where there is an intent to kill or cause serious harm.

In any case where the prosecution bring a charge of murder, the prosecution must prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. That the victim is indeed dead.
2. That the death was caused by the defendant's actions.
3. The defendant had the intention to kill or cause serious harm to the victim.
4. The defendant's actions were unlawful.

The intention to kill or cause serious harm must be established, and it is not enough that the defendant intended only to cause some harm or injury to the victim.  In addition, the defendant's actions must be the direct cause of the victim's death.  This concept of "causation" is important and should not be overlooked when defending allegations of murder.

What is the difference between murder and manslaughter ?

Both are forms of unlawful killing.  Murder is the premeditated and deliberate killing, where the defendant had the intention to kill or cause serious harm to the victim. Murder carries a mandatory life sentence.  In some cases, the defendant may also receive a whole-life order, meaning they will never be released from prison.

Manslaughter is an unlawful killing where the defendant did not have the intention to kill or cause serious harm to the victim, but their actions led to the vicitms death.  Manslaughter  does not carry a mandatory life sentence, but the judge has discretion to impose a life sentence.