Death as a result of a prank

[nclib]

Let's say someone commits a prank, and accidentally it results in another's death. Or say, the prankster acts as if s/he were to become violent. The target believes s/he is in self-defense and kills the prankster.

What would the likely criminal or civil ramifications be here?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Ever seen the movie Mean Creek? Fantastic film.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Let's say someone commits a prank, and accidentally it results in another's death.

Probably homicide, first degree if the prank involved some criminal activity, second if it did not.  Definitely gonna lose any civil suit that is filed.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Depends on the jurisdiction.  Different places have different thresholds for when the self-defense justification can be used.  If accepted, no criminal or civil liability for the prankstee, and he may have a tort against the dead prankster's estate.

Of course, I'm assuming that the jury finds that the above is what happened in both cases.

[dead0man]

Let's say someone commits a prank, and accidentally it results in another's death.

If the death wouldn't have happened without the prank, the prankster is going to at least get hit with Manslaughter charges.  If the prank wasn't potentially deadly and just random sh**t caused by the prank kills the dude (like cellophane on the toilet, piss splashes on floor, victim jumps to avoid piss, slips and whacks head on bathtub) you might get a slap on the wrist, but if the prank had any reasonable chance to harm (like walking up behind somebody on the edge of the grand canyon and doing the push/grab "saved your life HAHA!" thing), the prankster is going to be screwed, as he should be.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Self defense yo, you would need a super bleeding heart jury to convict somebody for that.

I love pranks, love watching other people get pranked, but I hate the "easy" stuff.  Loud noises when somebody isn't expecting it isn't a prank and the victim isn't a pus (or whatever) because he/she jumped.  Doing sh**t to sleeping person isn't funny (ok, it is, but not when it's violent).  But the worst is the "mom/smaller sibling/aunt thinks she is alone so I'm going to put on this mask, grab a knife and go scare the sh**t out of her" kind of thing.  Those dudes need a serious ass kicking.  You put on a mask, grab a weapon and attempt to scare somebody, you deserve whatever hell comes to you and I doubt any jury would convict you.  (and you will likely suffer plenty anyway, knowing you killed your son or nephew or whatever, even with a good excuse, is still going to weigh on you)

[J. J.]

My guess would be voluntary manslaughter, at worst.

In the scenario you provided, the killer probably had a reasonable fear that he was facing death/bodily injury.

[Jerseyrules]

Should go to trial, and should be guilty of manslaughter at least IMO; whoops my stupidity killed my friend durrrrr.....

[BYUmormon]

 Or say, the prankster acts as if s/he were to become violent. The target believes s/he is in self-defense and kills the prankster.

What would the likely criminal or civil ramifications be here?
[/quote]

       I'm not sure but I'd say it depends on how dangerous the situation looked. For example, if my friend was pretending he was about to punch me in the face I wouldn't go and shoot him, but if they got out a gun and pointed at me I guess it wouldn't be too bad to shoot him.