What is gross negligence manslaughter?

Gross negligence manslaughter refers to a situation where an individual causes the death of another person through a serious breach of duty of care, demonstrating a grossly negligent act. For this to apply, there must be a clear establishing of duty, a breach of that duty, a causative link between the breach and the death, and it must be proven that the behavior showed a disregard for life and safety that goes beyond simple negligence.

In this context, gross negligence implies a significant departure from the standards of care that a reasonable person would observe in the same situation. This means that the actions of the defendant must be so careless that they are considered criminal in nature, leading to the death of the victim. The emphasis here is on the gross deviation from the norm, which elevates this type of manslaughter from mere negligence to a level that is recognized as criminally culpable.

This answer aligns precisely with legal definitions and understanding of gross negligence manslaughter, distinguishing it from other forms of homicide or unintentionally caused deaths where the actor may not have acted with a criminal level of neglect or intention.