Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.023 : — CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERSOFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON — Voluntary manslaughter, penalty - under influence of sudden passion, defendant's burden to inject TEXT PDF 1. A person commits the offense of voluntary manslaughter if he or she: (1) Causes the death of another person under circumstances that would constitute murder in the second degree under subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 565.021, except that he or she caused the death under the influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause; or (2) Knowingly assists another in the commission of self-murder. 2. The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause under subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section. 3. The offense of voluntary manslaughter is a class B felony. § 565.023, RSMo Amended by 2014 Mo. Laws, SB 491,s A, eff. 1/1/2017. L. 1983 S.B. 276, A.L. 1984 S.B. 448 § A Effective 10-1-84