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Driving offences involving death

The main types of driving offences involving fatalities are 'dangerous' driving and 'careless or inconsiderate' driving. The driver's behaviour is what is important, not what the driver believes. Someone may be committing a dangerous driving offence even though they believe they are driving safely.

Find out more about driving offences involving death

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 » Driver's sentence for death by dangerous driving

Driver's sentence for death by dangerous driving

07/12/2006

A man who pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving after killing his friend in a high speed crash was sentenced to six and a half years in prison at Southwark Crown Court today.

Ivan Mazour was driving in Central London at about 80 mph in a 30 mph speed limit while at least one and a half times over the drink drive limit in November last year. He lost control of the Mitsubishi Evolution he was driving and hit an oncoming BMW. His front seat passenger, a 23 year old school friend Charlie Green, was killed. A second passenger and six people in the BMW were injured.

Alex Segbefia, District Crown Prosecutor said:

"The consequences of this case have had a terrible impact on many lives. Charlie Green was a young man with his whole life ahead of him and his family and friends have been devastated by his death. Others involved in the crash suffered serious injuries from which they are still recovering.

"It was clear to me that causing death by dangerous driving was the most appropriate charge. There was no doubt that Ivan Mazour's driving was dangerous and it should have been obvious to him that he was putting his passengers' lives and the lives of other road users in danger. It would also have been obvious to him that he was over the legal alcohol limit to be driving."

Ivan Mazour was also disqualified from driving for eight years.

Media enquiries to CPS Press Office on 020 7710 6091.