United States v. Walker
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
380 A.2d 1388 (1977)
Relevant factsFree
Earl Walker (defendant) was carrying a pistol without a license when he dropped it in a stairwell; the gun fired and killed a bystander. Walker was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the trial court dismissed the indictment on the theory that carrying an unlicensed pistol was not inherently more dangerous than carrying one with a license. The government appealed.
IssueFree
Whether involuntary manslaughter requires an unintentional homicide and either gross negligence or an intent to do an act that is a dangerous misdemeanor.