What is criminally negligent homicide?
If a person causes the death of another person by criminal negligence, it may constitute criminally negligent homicide. In general, criminal negligence is any action that significantly deviates from the reasonable, normal standards of ordinary people. For example, a doctor is treating a patient, but fails to adhere to …show more content…
Sometimes, people engage in reckless, or otherwise dangerous, activities. When such behaviors cause a fatality, it may constitute manslaughter under Texas state law. For example, a man is out with friends and has several alcoholic beverages. While driving home, he is involved in a collision, which kills the driver of the other vehicle. The man may be charged with a form of manslaughter.
Manslaughter is considered a second-degree felony in the state of Texas. If convicted of this offense, people may be sentenced to imprisonment in the institutional division for between two and 20 years. They may also be fined no more than $10,000.
What is murder?
If it is alleged that a person knowingly or intentionally causes someone else’s death, he or she may be charged with murder in the state of Texas. Situations in which a person intends to cause serious bodily injury, or commits an act that is evidently gravely dangerous, then he or she may also be charged with murder. Additionally, people may also face murder charges under Texas state law if they are committing, or attempting to commit, a felony offense and, in the course of the act, another person is killed. This is also the case if someone is killed as a person is fleeing the commission, or attempted commission, of a