What is the difference between murder and manslaughter?

In Pennsylvania, murder and manslaughter are both considered violent crimes, but there is a distinction between the two. Murder is defined as the intent to take the life of another person without legal justification. It is considered a higher offense compared to manslaughter. Manslaughter, on the other hand, is considered a less serious offense. It is when a person causes the death of another person, but without the intent to do so. There are two types of manslaughter in Pennsylvania: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter is when the person acted out of intense emotion or with a clear intent to cause serious injury, resulting in death. Involuntary manslaughter occurs when a death is unintentional, but caused by criminal negligence. Murder in Pennsylvania is classified as first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree. First-degree murder is the most serious and is premeditated, meaning that the act was planned and intended before the crime. Second-degree murder is when a person kills another person without premeditation but intends to cause death or serious bodily injury. Third-degree murder occurs when a person behaves with extreme recklessness and causes death. The difference between murder and manslaughter is that murder is the intent to take the life of another while manslaughter is accidentally causing the death of another person. In Pennsylvania, murder is considered the more severe offense with harsher penalties.

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What is the difference between murder and manslaughter?

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