Key Cases - Involuntary Manslaughter

R v Bateman (1925): Doctor’s negligent treatment of his patient resulted in death: ‘gross negligence’ was the basis for criminal liability.

Donoghue v Stevenson (1932): Snail in ginger beer; key case in negligence which established the principles of duty of care and the neighbour test.

R v Adomako (1994): Anaesthetist failed to notice disconnected tube during an operation; he was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter.

R v Stone and Dobinson (1977): Defendants breached duty of care towards old lady in their care; she died and they were convicted of manslaughter.

R v Litchfield (1998): Contractual duty of care owed towards crew by ship owner and master; three crew members died when the ship was driven onto rocks.

R v Wacker (2002): Fifty-eight illegal immigrants suffocated on Channel crossing when being smuggled into the country in the back of the defendant’s lorry. It was ruled that the defendant owed a duty of care to the immigrants as they were complicit in a crime.

R v Finlay (2001): Boy Scout died on Snowdon; scout master’s conduct was not enough to amount to gross negligence.

R v Edwards (2001): Parents allowed children to play on the railway and, consequently, the children were killed by a train. The parents were held to be grossly negligent and guilty of manslaughter.

Misra and Srivastava (2004): Patient died following doctor’s negligence. Gross negligence manslaughter conviction was held to be incompatible with human rights.

R v Lamb (1967): Man shot dead whilst playing dangerous game with a gun. There was no criminal offence involved and therefore no conviction for manslaughter.

R v Mitchell (1983): A scuffle in a…