Commonwealth v. Mink
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
123 Mass. 422 (1877)
Relevant factsFree
Mink (defendant) attempted to shoot herself after her fiancé Ricker announced he was ending their engagement, and during the ensuing struggle as Ricker tried to stop her, the gun discharged and killed him; the trial court instructed the jury that if Mink's attempted suicide was itself unlawful, and Ricker's death resulted from that unlawful act even unintentionally, she was guilty of manslaughter, and she was convicted and appealed.
IssueFree
Whether any person who commits a malum in se act or other criminal conduct which results in the death of another may be found guilty of criminal homicide.