Before a person can be convicted of the federal crime of voluntary manslaughter charges, the prosecution must prove the following four things beyond a reasonable doubt:
- The victim named in the indictment is dead;
- The accused individual caused the death of the victim;
- The accused acted intentionally but without malice and in the heat of passion caused by adequate provocation; and
- The killing occurred within the special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
See also manslaughter and DUI manslaughter.
