What the Voluntary Manslaughter Charge Means in the Hawkinson Case
Prosecutors filed two versions of the charge, anticipating a possible self-defense argument
MCPHERSON, Kan. — The charge filed against Daniel T. Hawkinson in the death of Joshua Soden is voluntary manslaughter, not murder. Under Kansas law, voluntary manslaughter means intentionally killing someone in the heat of the moment or during a sudden fight. If convicted, Hawkinson faces roughly 4.5 to 20.5 years in prison, a fine up to $300,000 and three years of supervision after release.
The distinction from murder matters. A murder charge requires proof that the killing was planned in advance. Voluntary manslaughter applies when a killing happens in the moment, driven by intense emotion or a confrontation rather than a deliberate decision made beforehand. Prior reporting established that the shooting occurred during a physical fight on a rural road after two groups left a house party southwest of Inman in the early morning hours of Jan. 31.
McPherson County Attorney Jennifer Wyatt filed the charge with two alternative versions. The first says Hawkinson killed Soden in the heat of passion or during a sudden fight. The second says Hawkinson believed he needed to use deadly force to defend himself, but that belief was not reasonable. Both carry the same penalties.
The second version is significant because it targets a likely defense argument. Earlier in the investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation declined to say whether self-defense had been claimed, and Wyatt's office declined to comment. By including both versions, prosecutors have set up the case so that even if a jury believes Hawkinson genuinely thought he was defending himself, they can still convict him if they decide a reasonable person in the same situation would not have used deadly force.
A hearing is set for 9 a.m. April 22 before District Magistrate Judge Amanda Faber. At that hearing, prosecutors must show there is enough evidence to move the case forward. If the judge agrees, the case will head toward trial. All defendants are presumed innocent unless, or until, found guilty in a court of law.
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