Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.023 – Until December 31, 2016 — Voluntary manslaughter, penalty — under influence of sudden passion, defendant's burden to inject

1. A person commits the crime of voluntary manslaughter if he:
1. (1) Causes the death of another person under circumstances that would constitute murder in the second degree under subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 565.021, except that he caused the death under the influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause; or
2. (2) Knowingly assists another in the commission of self-murder.
2. The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause under subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section.
3. Voluntary manslaughter is a class B felony.

(L. 1983 S.B. 276, A.L. 1984 S.B. 448 § A)

Effective 10-01-84

*This section was amended by S.B. 491, 2014, effective 1-01-17. Due to the delayed effective date, both versions of this section are printed here.