California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Nelson, 2d Crim. No. B271618 (Cal. App. 2017):
"Criminal negligence is '"aggravated, culpable, gross, or reckless . . . conduct . . . [that is] such a departure from what would be the conduct of an ordinarily prudent or careful [person] under the same circumstances as to be incompatible with a proper regard for human life . . . ."' [Citation.]" (People v. Valdez
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(2002) 27 Cal.4th 778, 783.) "[I]nvoluntary manslaughter . . . requires a showing that a reasonable person would have been aware of the risk. [Citation.] Thus, even if the defendant had a subjective, good faith belief that his or her actions posed no risk, involuntary manslaughter culpability based on criminal negligence is warranted if the defendant's belief was objectively unreasonable. [Citations.]" (People v. Butler (2010) 187 Cal.App.4th 998, 1008-1009.)
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