Whats the difference between murder 1, 2, 3, and manslaughter?

Manslaughter (voluntary and involuntary) carry a lesser charge than murder. Voluntary means that you had intent on killing someone, but certain things mitigate the charge. Involuntary, means that you did not mean to kill a person. Murder : First Degree Murder: A premeditated murder, and (in some states) murders involving certain especially dangerous felonies, such as arson or rape, or committed by an inmate serving a life sentence. Second Degree Murder: Non pre-meditated killing. Third Degree Murder: Any other murder (e.g. when the intent was not to kill, but to harm the victim)

1st means that the killing was premiditated you thought it, how you were going to go about killing them (the worst) 2nd means you killed them right then and there not even thinking about it like you just took your anger out and shot them or something and then they were dead and later you probably couldnt believe what you actually did 3rd is something like you killed them in a car accident

OK. The common law, and pretty much every state except maybe four or five, define only two degrees of murder. Exact definitions differ slightly from state to state, but they generally go something line this: Murder: The unlawful killing of another human, with malice. Malice: Either (1) intent to kill; (2) intent to cause great bodily injury; (3) acting with depraved indifference to human life; (4) causing death during commission of an inherently dangerous felony. Murder - First degree: A murder committed under special circumstances, such as by poison, torture, bombing, or lying in wait. Murder - Second degree: All murders that are not first degree. Manslaughter: Unlawful killing of another human, without malice. Usually divided into voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary Manslaughter: Typically, a murder where there are mitigating circumstances. Most common: A murder committed where the killer acted under "heat of passion." Heat of passion is acting under provocation that would cause a reasonable person to act irrationally. Involuntary manslaughter: All other manslaughter.

manslaughter - murder without premeditation (deadly weapon may or may not be used...car is/can be deadly weapon) murder 1- premeditation (had a LONG time to think and plan...deadly weapon) murder 2 - murder of opportunity ( I took a long time to think about it....and took a shot) murder 3 - can be manslaughter, with exceptions. (depends on what method was used and when it was done and to whom...)

Murder 1 is the most severe 3 is the least severe. Manslaughter is the least one below 3 like if you killed somebody outta self defense the least charge you would get is manslaughter. If you killed somebody in cold blood like with a machette or machine gun that would most likely be murder 1.