The Colorado Crime of Manslaughter 18-3-104
To understand the Colorado Criminal Code and more specifically the charge or charges in the Complaint and Information or Grand Jury Indictment against you – you need TWO things.
I. You Will Need To Understand The Actual Statutory Crime With Which You Have Been Charged
– The statute, as of 2016, appears first on this page.
II. You Will Also Need To Understand How The Jury Or Judge Reads The Elements – ( a jury instruction “breakout” of the necessary parts or list of things that make up the crime)
– The Jury Instruction appears after a reprint of the statute defining the crime.
The Colorado Statutory Crime of Manslaughter 18-3-104
§ 18-3-104. Manslaughter
(2) | Manslaughter is a class 4 felony. |
(3) | This section shall not apply to a person, including a proxy decision-maker as such person is described in section 15-18.5-103, C.R.S., who complies with any advance medical directive in accordance with the provisions of title 15, C.R.S., including a medical durable power of attorney, a living will, or a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) directive. |
(4) |
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The Colorado Jury Instruction for the Crime of Manslaughter 18-3-104
MANSLAUGHTER (RECKLESS)
The elements of the crime of manslaughter are:
1. That the defendant,
2. in the State of Colorado, at or about the date and place charged,
3. recklessly,
4. caused the death of another person.
[5. and that the defendant’s conduct was not legally authorized by the affirmative defense[s] in Instruction[s] ___.]To enlarge this Colorado Felony Sentencing Chart – click on the chart itself.