In 1781 the crew of the Zong, a British slave ship, killed 133 slaves and threw the bodies overboard in an attempt to claim compensation from the insurers for lost cargo. The whole thing ended up in court – but not for killing slaves since this was legal.

When the ship returned to England the owners of the ship claimed the full value of the murdered slaves from the insurers. They claimed they there was a necessity to throw the slaves over the ship because of water depletion. Well it was proven later that it was all a lie and that the captain had an opportunity for more water on December 1. By the time the Zong had arrived in Jamaica on December 22, they had 420 gallons of water to spare. (online here)

The owners demanded compensation of £30 for each slave. The judge of the case, Lord Chief Justice Lord Mansfield, stated that “no doubt that (though it shocks one very much) the case was the same as if horses had been thrown overboard”

The Solicitor General, John Lee, declared that a master could drown slaves without “a surmise of impropriety”.

What is this claim that human people have been thrown overboard? This is a case of chattels or goods. Blacks are goods and property; it is madness to accuse these well-serving honourable men of murder. They acted out of necessity and in the most appropriate manner for the cause. The late Captain Collingwood acted in the interest of his ship to protect the safety of his crew. To question the judgement of an experienced well-travelled captain held in the highest regard is one of folly, especially when talking of slaves. The case is the same as if wood had been thrown overboard. (wikipedia)

The comparisons of people to wood or horses shows the way in lawyers are indoctrinated into being able to interprete the letter of the law rather than attempt to arrive at justice and fairness.