“Every one is criminally negligent who (a) in doing anything, or (b) in omitting to do anything that it is his duty to do, shows wanton or reckless disregard for the lives or safety of other persons.” Section 220 goes on to provide that a person who causes death by criminal negligence is “liable to imprisonment for life.”
If this is what the wording of the law is it was down to the parents to make sure their child could not get into danger, the child was their responsibility, it should not be able to wander into the road, or onto other folks property
The neighbours chose to have a pond and could not be considered reckless as they cannot anticipate other folk, or childrens reckless behaviour.
A pretty landscape with a pond in it is no more evidence of an intent to 'cause death' than a rock on the ground, a step, paved concrete which can cause death if folk recklessly fall on to them
Regards, andy
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