Introduction
It is the responsibility of the judicial system to determine if a person is guilty or innocent and then treat her accordingly. Furthermore, resolving disputes also falls under the duties of the judiciary. The judicial system decides a case based on the law and legislation according to the country’s constitution. It is responsible for upholding the law by providing an adequate judgment on the person charged or accused of criminal behavior. However, it requires carefully examining the evidence and the defendant’s circumstances before reaching any conclusion.
Abandoned Heart Homicide
The concept of abandoned heart homicide involves a homicide or criminal act committed by a person who has no regard for the sanctity of the life of humans. It is a deliberate murder committed knowingly and willingly by the murderer.
Involuntary Manslaughter
On the other hand, involuntary manslaughter is not intended by the accused. It is not premeditated and usually results from a person’s rash behavior. It is an unplanned murder, and the accused is not aware that her actions might lead to the death of a human being.
Difference Between the Two
The law views both, involuntary manslaughter as well as abandoned heart homicide as criminal acts and punishable, but the severity of the punishment is different for both. The main difference between the two is the intent of the accused. Abandoned heart homicide is committed with clear intention and demonstrates that the charged has no regard for the value of human life. Such a crime is engaged with the result in mind, which is the death of the other individual. Therefore, the punishment for such a crime is severe and may include life imprisonment or capital punishment.
In contrast, involuntary manslaughter is an involuntary crime. The accused never meant to harm the individual and is not aware of the dire consequences of her actions. Her reckless behavior or negligence indeed led to the killing of the person, it was never intended in the first place. However, as a person has lost her life due to the actions, it is a crime that should be punished. Still, it is not a crime as severe as the abandoned heart homicide. Therefore, the person accused of such a crime is punished more lightly than in the abandoned heart case.
Factors to Be Considered by the Prosecutor
Numerous factors need to be reviewed by the prosecutor to determine whether to charge an individual with abandoned heart homicide or involuntary manslaughter. In the context of involuntary manslaughter, it is necessary to consider some fundamental aspects before charging. The fact that the actions of the accused resulted in the loss of life of a human being is of the utmost importance. Secondly, it should be determined whether the accused was aware of the dire consequences of her actions. The majority of the instances that result in involuntary manslaughter are cases of road accidents as a result of the driver being under the influence of drugs, most commonly alcohol. Hence, such an accident is not voluntary, and the prosecutor needs to examine these facts before charging the driver.
Furthermore, charging an individual with abandoned heart homicide requires a keen analysis of the state of the mind of the accused by the prosecutor. It is a very major crime, even classified as first-degree murder by individual States. Therefore, the prosecutor should be prudent so that she might not wrongfully charge the accused with abandoned heart homicide. The accused’s actions should be carefully analyzed to gauge the presence of intent and the lack of regard for the value of human life. If the acts are proven to be voluntary, the individual should be charged with abandoned heart homicide, as she displayed an intended reckless behavior that resulted in people losing lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, human life is sacred and anyone who harms it needs to be punished accordingly. However, it is the duty of the judicial system and the prosecutor to determine if the crime was performed voluntarily or involuntarily. Although abandoned heart homicide and involuntary manslaughter mandate different types and severity of punishments, both have resulted in the loss of human life, and are hence punishable offenses.
