Murder law changes take effect
Changes to the law on murder contained in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 come into force today.
These provisions:
* replace the partial defence to murder of diminished responsibility with a modernised definition based on the concept of ‘an abnormality of mental functioning which arose from a recognised medical condition'
* abolish the existing partial defence to murder of provocation. This will be replaced by the partial defence to murder of ‘loss of control’. The partial defence will be available where a person’s loss of self control was attributable to a fear of serious violence, or in response to words or conduct which caused the defendant to have a justifiable sense of being seriously wronged
* amend the Infanticide Act 1938 so that it is clear that the offence and defence of infanticide are available only in respect of a woman who would otherwise be found guilty of murder or manslaughter.
These changes are based on Law Commission recommendations made in their review of homicide law in 2006 and were fully debated by Parliament and passed into law in 2009.
Comment: I don't think the rewording makes anything any the clearer.
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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