R v Seymour [1983] 2 AC 493 House of Lords

The appellant had a heated argument with his girlfriend. He then tried to push her car with his lorry. Unfortunately he crushed her as she was trapped between the lorry and the car.

Lord Roskill:

"Where manslaughter is charged and the circumstances are that the victim was killed as a result of the reckless driving of the defendant on a public highway, the trial judge should give the jury the direction suggested in R. v Lawrence but it is appropriate also to point out that in order to constitute the offence of manslaughter the risk of death being caused by the manner of the defendant's driving must be very high."

Back to lecture outline on gross negligence manslaughter