Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against the person - Murder, manslaughter, etc

177: Punishment of manslaughter

You could also call this:

“If you accidentally kill someone, you could go to jail for a very long time.”

If you commit manslaughter, you can be sent to prison for life. This means that if you are found responsible for someone’s death, but it wasn’t murder, you could still go to jail for a very long time. The law says that this is the most serious punishment that can be given for manslaughter.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM329329.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal law

176: Accessory after the fact to murder, or

“Helping someone who committed murder after they did it is against the law and can get you in big trouble.”

178: Infanticide, or

“A mother who kills her young child while mentally unwell due to childbirth can be charged with infanticide instead of murder.”

Part 8 Crimes against the person
Murder, manslaughter, etc

177Punishment of manslaughter

Every one who commits manslaughter is liable to imprisonment for life.
Repealed
Repealed
Repealed

Compare

1908 No 32 s 191

Notes

Section 177(2): repealed, on 30 June 2002, by section 164(b) of the Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9).
Section 177(3): repealed, on 30 June 2002, by section 164(b) of the Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9).
Section 177(4): repealed, on 30 June 2002, by section 164(b) of the Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9).