The Criminal Code prohibits “culpable homicide” and other acts or omissions that result in the death of another human being, including:
- The Criminal Code contains numerous complicated provisions that define “murder,” classify murder as first-degree or second-degree, and replace murder with “infanticide” or “manslaughter” depending on the circumstances.
- It is an offence to attempt to murder a person.
- It is an offence to be an accessory after the fact to murder.
- It is also an aggravated offence to cause death by the commission of other offences, such as the impaired operation of a motor vehicle or criminal negligence.
Homicide offences are some of the most serious offences with some of the most serious consequences:
- At the bail stage, if a person is alleged to have committed certain homicide offences, then they may be subject to a “reverse onus” bail hearing – they must prove that they should be released from custody, instead of the prosecution having to prove that they should be kept in custody.
- At the sentencing stage, some homicide offences involve mandatory minimum jail sentences (including mandatory sentences to life imprisonment), most homicide offences can result in a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a person may also be unable to get parole for fourteen years or twenty-five years for murder.