Opinion ID: 2072886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: negligent homicidemanslaughter

Text: Relying on State v. Hagge, 224 N.W.2d 560, 565 (N.D.1974), Carmody argues that he is entitled to a new trial on a charge of negligent homicide pursuant to § 12-27-35, NDCC (subsequently superseded by § 12.1-16-03, NDCC). In Hagge we said: The two statutes, § 12-27-17, N.D.C.C., and § 12-27-35, N.D.C.C., are so irreconcilably in conflict and repugnant that the purpose of the enactment of the two statutes cannot be harmonized. Accordingly, we, in that case, set aside the verdict of guilty of manslaughter in the first degree and remanded for new trial on the charge of negligent homicide. Second degree manslaughter, defined in § 12-27-19, NDCC, was not involved in Hagge. The Hagge opinion was filed on December 20, 1974, over a year after Carmody was charged with manslaughter in the first degree (§ 12-27-17, NDCC) on August 15, 1973, and over a year after he was convicted of manslaughter in the second degree (§ 12-27-19, NDCC) on December 7, 1973. No objection was made by Carmody to the charge until proceedings for post-conviction relief under Chapter 29-32, NDCC, were instituted in December 1975. Rule 12(b), NDRCrimP, requires that defenses and objections based upon (1) defects in the institution of prosecution, and (2) defects in the indictment, information or complaint other than that it fails to show jurisdiction in the court or to charge an offense, must be raised prior to trial or they are waived. See Rule 12(f), NDRCrimP. A complaint charging first degree manslaughter, evaluated as of August 15, 1973 (pre-Hagge ), on its face was appropriate under the statute (§ 12-27-17, NDCC). That statute had not been declared superseded by any court. The complaint clearly showed jurisdiction in the district court, where Carmody was charged and tried. It is true that in syllabus 3 of State v. Hagge, 224 N.W.2d 562, supra, we said that: 3. By enactment of the negligent homicide statute, the legislature removed homicide in the operation of motor vehicles from the purview of the earlier manslaughter statute and placed it within the purview of the negligent homicide statute and repealed the manslaughter statute to the extent that it included within its purview homicide resulting from improper operation of motor vehicles. The reference therein to the words manslaughter statute, and as used throughout the opinion, referred to manslaughter first degree under § 12-27-17, NDCC, and not to manslaughter second degree under § 12-27-19, NDCC. In Hagge we concluded that §§ 12-27-35 and 12-27-17, NDCC, were irreconcilable and that therefore the rules applicable to repeals by implication required the conclusion that § 12-27-17 was repealed insofar as it related to charges arising out of death by the operation of a motor vehicle. Applying the same rules as we applied in State v. Hagge, supra , when we compare the charge of negligent homicide under §§ 12-27-35, 12-27-36 and 12-27-37, NDCC, with the charge of manslaughter second degree under §§ 12-27-19 and 12-27-20, NDCC, we find that they are totally reconcilable and consistent. The principal element of the offense of negligent homicide is the driving of a vehicle in reckless disregard of the safety of others. The principal element of the offense of manslaughter second degree is culpable negligence which was defined in the case of State v. Tjaden, 69 N.W.2d 272, 282 (N.D.1955):    blamable and wanton lack of care evidenced in a reckless indifference to the safety and rights of others. And, in State v. Gulke, 76 N.D. 653, 38 N.W.2d 722, 723 (1949), this Court held: The term culpable negligence as used in Section 12-2719, RCND 1943, defining manslaughter in the second degree as applied to the operation of a motor vehicle, implies a total lack of care which is properly described as being in a reckless and heedless manner with utter disregard for the lives and limbs of persons upon the highway. The penalties under each of the offenses of negligent homicide and manslaughter second degree are identical, to wit, imprisonment in the penitentiary for not less than one year nor for more than five years, or in the county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, under § 39-06-31(1), NDCC, a conviction under either charge results in the revocation of a driver's license. We conclude that negligent homicide and second degree manslaughter (when accomplished with the use of a motor vehicle) are completely consistent and reconcilable, and the enactment of the negligent homicide statute (§ 12-27-35, NDCC) did not supersede and repeal by implication the provisions of the second degree manslaughter statute (§ 12-27-19, NDCC). Carmody was thus not prejudiced when he was convicted under the manslaughter statute rather than the negligent homicide statute. There was no obvious or plain error under Rule 52(b), NDRCrimP It would not promote the ends of justice to grant a retrial of this case. We accordingly affirm the judgment of conviction and the order denying the motion for a new trial. ERICKSTAD, C. J., and PAULSON and SAND, JJ., concur.