What defines unlawful act manslaughter?

Unlawful act manslaughter is defined as the act of causing death through a criminal or unlawful act, which is not necessarily aimed at causing death but is considered dangerous. In this context, it means that the defendant engages in an illegal act—such as a violent crime, which is inherently risky or reckless—and during the commission of that act, another person dies as a result.

The focus is on the nature of the conduct: it must be a criminal offense that is objectively dangerous to others, and the resulting death must be a direct consequence of that unlawful act. This legal definition ensures accountability when someone’s illegal actions lead to unintended fatal outcomes.

In contrast, deaths caused by natural causes, lawful acts gone wrong, or purely accidental circumstances do not fit the criteria for unlawful act manslaughter, as they lack the component of unlawful conduct that is essential to establish this specific form of manslaughter.