Southern California Criminal Lawyer Blog
What is the difference between manslaughter and murder?
Simply put, the act of killing another person with malice is murder and carries a very serious charge. On the other hand, manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a person(s) without malice or prior planning.
The prosecution thoroughly reviews the specific circumstances surrounding a murder before deciding which charge is to be applied. California law mandates a maximum of only 11 years in prison in the case the assailant is convicted of manslaughter.