Under section 234 of the Criminal Code, manslaughter is defined as culpable homicide that is not murder or infanticide. Evidently, the definition of manslaughter is not straightforward and requires explanation of culpable homicide, murder, and infanticide. The most common case of culpable homicide is when a person who causes the death of another either by means of an unlawful act, such as assault (visit our “assault” page for more information) or by criminal negligence. It is the type of homicide where the person committing the act intended to cause the death or bodily harm of another knowing that his or her act is likely to cause death to that person. A person can also be charged with manslaughter if by threats, deception or fear of violence, causes another person to do something that causes that person’s death, or by willful frightening, in case of a child or sick person, causes the death of that child or person. Infanticide is when a female person causes the death of her newly-born child and has not fully recovered from the effects of child birth. A person can be charged with manslaughter if they cause the death of another person by means of an unlawful act or by negligence that reaches a criminal standard, but the circumstances of their case does not meet the legal requirements of murder or infanticide. Generally, a person will be charged with manslaughter if they did not have intent to cause death or serious injury that could lead to death, but they had intent to commit the unlawful act that led to the death of another, such as an assault.