Nichols v. Vitek

This petitioner for habeas corpus seeks his liberty on the ground that his conviction for manslaughter in the first degree as a lesser included offense of murder for which he was indicted violated his constitutional and statutory (RSA 601:1) right not to be tried and convicted of the offense of manslaughter without being specifically indicted therefor.

There is no question but that manslaughter is a lesser included offense of murder. The indictment for murder contains all the allegations essential to constitute a charge of manslaughter. State v. Butman, 42 N.H. 490 (1861); State v.…