In the Munter case, what must be proven to convict of manslaughter when there is no intent to murder?

• A. The unlawful assault caused the death
• B. The victim died of natural causes
• C. The defendant intended serious harm
• D. The death was immediate

Answer: (A)

The key idea is causation through an unlawful act. In cases of manslaughter where there is no intent to kill, the crime rests on an unlawful act that is dangerous and that directly causes the death. The Munter case illustrates that the offender must have performed an unlawful act (such as an unlawful assault) and that act must be the cause of the death. If death occurs for natural reasons or from something unrelated, there isn’t liability for manslaughter in this sense. The fact that the death happened immediately isn’t what matters—the important point is that the death was caused by the unlawful act. Intent to kill isn’t required for this form of manslaughter; what matters is the unlawful act and its causal link to death.