Law Weblog

Murder and manslaughter review announced today

Friday 22 July 2005 at 8:03 pm | In News | Post Comment

The Home Office and Law Commission (independent of ministers) are to conduct the first comprehensive review of the law on murder and manslaughter for more than fifty years.

The Review is expected to last between 18 months and two years. It will focus on the partial defences including provocation. The Government has made clear its concern over the current position on provocation, particularly where the alleged provocation is due to sexual jealously and infidelity. In such cases, raising the partial defence can often mean the victim is blamed and the defendant is able to plead manslaughter not murder.

Today’s government announcement here