SimonG: Somebody has to save the world....
wpegg: This did make me laugh. I hope that was the intent, and I haven't greatly insulted you.
Out of interest, as one of those world saving lawyers, do you know of a crime that doesn't require intent? I assume there are various negligence offences and financial failures?
First you have the whole "involuntary shebang", which is usually restricted to stuff that harms other persons. Like causing an accident which steared that gasoline tanker truck right into the daycare center for cute little girls. I can't think of any property crime that can be done "involuntary" (apart from big corporate stuff). "Involuntary arson" however, is possible, but that is because it is a "crime with great danger for others".
Then there is, at least in german criminal law, a construction called "dolus eventualis" which basically says your neglicence was that big, that it has to be treated like intent.
The opposite are cases were you trying to commit a crime, but fail. Like shooting at somebody and missing all the time (The Stormtrooper paradox). Then your "intend" gets punished. Not every crime has a "punishable try" and sometimes, if the "trying" is to redicoulus, it's also not punished (Beheading somebody with a foam axe).
thebum06: Some places distinguish between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter at least.
wpegg: But doesn't the involuntary manslaughter derive from intentional negligence?
Not every negligence does fit the bill of "involuntary manslaughter". If you did everything that could be expected by you and the accident occured anyway, you are free to go. But, eg. you crossed a red light, which causes the above mentioned tanker incident, then you are already in "criminal waters".
*german law