Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2503 (2026)

Voluntary manslaughter.

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 2503. Voluntary manslaughter.

(a) General rule.--A person who kills an individual without lawful justification commits voluntary manslaughter if at the time of the killing he is acting under a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation by:

(1) the individual killed; or

(2) another whom the actor endeavors to kill, but he negligently or accidentally causes the death of the individual killed.

(b) Unreasonable belief killing justifiable.--A person who intentionally or knowingly kills an individual commits voluntary manslaughter if at the time of the killing he believes the circumstances to be such that, if they existed, would justify the killing under Chapter 5 of this title (relating to general principles of justification), but his belief is unreasonable.

(c) Grading.--Voluntary manslaughter is a felony of the first degree.

(Nov. 17, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.1144, No.36, eff. 60 days)

1995 Amendment. Act 36, 1st Sp.Sess., amended subsec. (c).

Cross References. Section 2503 is referred to in sections 5702, 5708, 6105 of this title; sections 1515, 9711, 9802 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); sections 6139, 7122 of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 252 cases (49 in the last 5 years), 1974–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Busanet, 54 A.3d 35 (Pa. 2012).

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Commonwealth v. Busanet, 54 A.3d 35 (Pa. 2012). · cites it 4× “2d 638, 649 (2009); 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a). “Emotions encompassed by the term ‘passion’ include anger, rage, sudden resentment or terror which renders the mind incapable of reason.”

Commonwealth v. Spotz, 84 A.3d 294 (Pa. 2014). · cites it 3× “18 Pa.C.S. § 2503 provides, in pertinent part: § 2503.”

Commonwealth v. Laich, 777 A.2d 1057 (Pa. 2001). · cites it 6× “18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a). In both crimes, the actor commits the act with the intent to kill.”

Commonwealth v. Martin, 5 A.3d 177 (Pa. 2010). · cites it 4× “" See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2503 & Official Comment, 2301.”

Commonwealth v. Le, Tam M., Aplt., 208 A.3d 960 (Pa. 2019). · cites it 4× “§ 9711(d)(10); and (5) Appellant had been convicted of voluntary manslaughter, as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503, committed in another jurisdiction either before or at the time of the offense at issue.”

Commonwealth v. Bracey, 795 A.2d 935 (Pa. 2001). · cites it 4× “Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(b): A person who intentionally or knowingly kills an individual commits voluntary manslaughter if at the time of the killing he believes the circumstances to be such that, if they existed, would justify the killing under Chapter 5 of this title (relating…”

Commonwealth v. Cook, 952 A.2d 594 (Pa. 2008). · cites it 4× “We further noted that, at trial, Cox presented no evidence either of a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation, see 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a), or of an unreasonable belief in self-defense, see 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Montalvo, M., 205 A.3d 274 (Pa. 2019). · cites it 3× “2d 638 , 649 (2009) ; 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a) ). A defense of heat of passion is available to a defendant who admits criminal liability at trial, but contests the degree of guilt.”

Commonwealth v. Carter, 466 A.2d 1328 (Pa. 1983). · cites it 8× “18 Pa.C.S. § 2503. [6] All six participating Justices in Jones agreed the voluntary manslaughter instruction must be given in all murder prosecutions upon request.”

Commonwealth v. Brown, 872 A.2d 1139 (Pa. 2005). · cites it 4× “To satisfy section 9711(d)(12), the Commonwealth must demonstrate that "[t]he defendant has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter, as defined in 18 Pa. C.S. § 2503 (relating to voluntary manslaughter), or a substantially equivalent crime in any other jurisdiction, committed…”

Commonwealth v. Terry, 521 A.2d 398 (Pa. 1987). · cites it 7× “Here, appellant did not meet his burden of producing evidence which, under the substantive law of Pennsylvania, would require the court to instruct on either (a) the Commonwealth's duty to persuade the jury that appellant's capacity to reason was not so affected by mental…”

Commonwealth v. Rivera, 983 A.2d 1211 (Pa. 2009). · cites it 3× “(citing 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a) and (b)). The latter definition, or "unreasonable belief of self-defense voluntary manslaughter,” has been colloquially referred to as "imperfect self-defense.”

Show all 252 citing cases →

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2503(B) — 1 case

Muir v. Link (E.D. Pa. 2021).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2503(a) — 82 cases

Commonwealth v. Laich, 777 A.2d 1057 (Pa. 2001). “18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a). In both crimes, the actor commits the act with the intent to kill.”

Commonwealth v. Williams, 980 A.2d 510 (Pa. 2009).

Commonwealth v. Mason, L., Aplt, 130 A.3d 601 (Pa. 2015).

Commonwealth v. Busanet, 54 A.3d 35 (Pa. 2012). “2d 638, 649 (2009); 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a). “Emotions encompassed by the term ‘passion’ include anger, rage, sudden resentment or terror which renders the mind incapable of reason.”

Commonwealth v. Martin, 5 A.3d 177 (Pa. 2010). “" See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2503 & Official Comment, 2301.”

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2503(a)(1) — 26 cases

Commonwealth v. Spotz, 84 A.3d 294 (Pa. 2014). “18 Pa.C.S. § 2503 provides, in pertinent part: § 2503.”

Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Montalvo, M., 205 A.3d 274 (Pa. 2019). “2d 638 , 649 (2009) ; 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a) ). A defense of heat of passion is available to a defendant who admits criminal liability at trial, but contests the degree of guilt.”

Commonwealth v. Arrington, 86 A.3d 831 (Pa. 2014).

Dixon v. State, 772 A.2d 283 (Md. 2001).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2503(a)(2) — 2 cases

Commonwealth v. Bullock, 913 A.2d 207 (Pa. 2006).

Commonwealth v. Jones, 683 A.2d 1181 (Pa. 1996).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2503(a)(l) — 1 case

Com. v. Glenn, M. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2503(b) — 94 cases

Commonwealth v. Bracey, 795 A.2d 935 (Pa. 2001). “Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(b): A person who intentionally or knowingly kills an individual commits voluntary manslaughter if at the time of the killing he believes the circumstances to be such that, if they existed, would justify the killing under Chapter 5 of this title (relating…”

Commonwealth v. Terry, 521 A.2d 398 (Pa. 1987). “Here, appellant did not meet his burden of producing evidence which, under the substantive law of Pennsylvania, would require the court to instruct on either (a) the Commonwealth's duty to persuade the jury that appellant's capacity to reason was not so affected by mental…”

Commonwealth v. Rivera, 983 A.2d 1211 (Pa. 2009). “(citing 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a) and (b)). The latter definition, or "unreasonable belief of self-defense voluntary manslaughter,” has been colloquially referred to as "imperfect self-defense.”

Commonwealth v. Cook, 952 A.2d 594 (Pa. 2008). “We further noted that, at trial, Cox presented no evidence either of a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation, see 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503(a), or of an unreasonable belief in self-defense, see 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Carter, 466 A.2d 1328 (Pa. 1983). “18 Pa.C.S. § 2503. [6] All six participating Justices in Jones agreed the voluntary manslaughter instruction must be given in all murder prosecutions upon request.”

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2503(c) — 4 cases

Commonwealth v. White, 910 A.2d 648 (Pa. 2006).

Commonwealth v. Pestinikas, 617 A.2d 1339 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1992).

Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Rizor, J. (Pa. 2023).

Commonwealth v. Rizor, J., Aplt. (Pa. 2023).

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