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Prosecuting Homicide

Murder and manslaughter are two of the offences that constitute homicide.

Manslaughter can be committed in one of three ways:

  1. killing with the intent for murder but where there is provocation, diminished responsibility or a suicide pact.
  2. conduct that was grossly negligent given the risk of death, and resulted in death.
  3. conduct, taking the form of an unlawful act involving a danger of some harm, that caused death.

With some exceptions, the crime of murder is committed, where a person:

  • of sound mind and discretion (i.e. sane):
  • unlawfully kills (i.e. not self-defence or other justified killing)
  • any reasonable creature (human being)
  • in being (born alive and breathing through its own lungs)
  • under the Queen's Peace
  • with intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.

There are other specific homicide offences, for example, infanticide, causing death by dangerous driving, and corporate manslaughter.

Find out more about prosecuting homicide

Home » News Centre » Press Releases » CPS statement - Mark Dixie convicted of murder

CPS statement - Mark Dixie convicted of murder

22/02/2008

Following the conviction of Mark Dixie for the murder of Sally Anne Bowman, Damaris Lakin from the CPS London Homicide Team said:

"Sally Anne Bowman was a young woman full of aspirations for the future, with her whole life ahead of her, when she was brutally murdered by Mark Dixie, for his sexual gratification.

"Having seen the strength of the case that the Prosecution assembled against him, he constructed his disturbing and, quite frankly, absurd defence, which only served to add to the considerable distress of Sally Anne's family.

"Hopefully the verdict of the jury will bring them some comfort. I would like to pay tribute to the immense courage of the victim of the Australian attack who gave evidence of what was a horrific ordeal for her."

Media enquiries to CPS Press Office on 020 7796 8127.