[jnks]

> I don't think it's as simple as "if someone dies there needs to be a trial".

But there almost always is in reality, if there's a reasonable suspect. The only exception seems to be with law enforcement officers.

[Crito]

Not really. Iff it makes it to the Grand Jury, then what you said is true.

Often it never makes it that far. In many self-defense cases involving non-police civilians the district attorney will decide that no crime was committed and that will be the end of it.

One quick example from the top of a google search: http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/janitor-wont-be-charged-i...