Fear of Serious Violence

In the UK:

Victims of domestic abuse will be able to use the defence of "fear of serious violence" against a murder charge, if they can demonstrate a "slow burn" of abuse.

It would see them face a charge of manslaughter instead.

Hmmm. I would assume they already have the "self-defense" defense...but I suppose the problem with that has been that women, as victims of repeated violence, haven't traditionally been seen as acting in self-defense--even when danger was imminent. They are seen as vindictive...always having an alternative motive.

But when men kill, it has been okay to justify it using, "The Bitch was fucking my brother...and that made me insane, irrational, I couldn't think..." etc.

And I don't mean it was "okay" in the sense that they were excused from their murders, because everyone serves time (be it in a mental facility or prison). I mean society sees this type of killing as less than the other.

It means a man who kills his wife after discovering she was unfaithful - a so-called crime of passion - will no longer have the defence of provocation.

AHA! There we have it!

But the defence will be available for those who were "seriously wronged" such as parents who catch a paedophile molesting their child or a rape victim who is taunted by her attacker.

This is getting more interesting.

Will this make more women kill? I don't know. Sometimes I wonder if that maybe this is the way to go because society only responds to violence. When we do "the right thing," we get fucked over by the court system AND our abusers. But something tells me that violence plus violence..just..isn't....but at the same time...justice...I think I'm going to reserve my commentary for now. You can read the rest here.