Manslaughter definition:

Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder.

The law generally differentiates between levels of criminal culpability based on the mens rea, or state of mind. This is particularly true within the law of homicide, where murder requires either the intent to kill, a state of mind called malice, or malice aforethought, which may involve an unintentional killing but with a willful disregard for life.

Manslaughter is usually broken down into two distinct categories: voluntary manslaughter andinvoluntary manslaughter.

Not sure which one they are investigating involuntary or voluntary..

To prove a charge of manslaughter, authorities must show there was reckless action that created a risk of death or great bodily injury. If a doctor is aware of the risk, there might also be an issue of whether the patient knows that risk and decided to take it.

SUch a charge does not require an intent to kill and experts said the focus would more likely be on whether Murray took unnecessary risks in administering a drug or drugs to Jackson