30/07/08
Domestic violence and the provocation defence
The Government has published plans to reform the murder laws, proposing the biggest changes since the abolition of hanging nearly 40 years ago. Feminist campaigners have long called for an effective defence to be made available to women who murder their partners after prolonged and violent abuse. They have also called for the defence of provocation to be tightened up so men cannot get off lightly for killing their partners. So, do the changes proposed go far enough to protect women, or, as some fear, could they allow women to get away with murder? Jenni talks to Harriet Harman about the proposed changes to the law.