Reaction to murder law reforms

People who kill their partners after years of abuse will be able to use a new defence under proposed changes to the murder laws.

The reforms also propose the end of the centuries-old defence of provocation, which enables mostly male defendants to escape murder convictions and be found guilty of manslaughter.

So what do people caught up in domestic violence think of the plans?

Vivienne Hosier, 47, from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, survived two abusive relationships.

Domestic abuse is said to affect one in four women during their lifetime

"I understand the sheer depths of despair that can lead to the final snapping point, but I don't condone murder," she said.

Ms Hosier's first partner was physically violent. She was punched, dragged around the floor by her hair, made to eat food off the floor, and strangled until she lost consciousness.

But, she says, during the seven years she was with him, she never thought about killing him because she was so scared.

She tried to kill herself, though, when she saw no way out.

A second partner abused her mentally and emotionally.

"It's a subtle and sophisticated bullying which eats away at your self confidence," she said.

"But it's like an addiction where you feel a strange security because you have no responsibilities, you do what you're told and you know what the punishments are."

Lisa, from London, admits she was on the verge of killing a violent partner and she welcomes the proposed reforms.

Men who abuse their partners often say they were provoked

"He'd attacked me with a knife on more than one occasion and a gun, and I got to a stage when I used to sit there thinking 'What am I going to do?'. I wanted to kill him," she said.

"People have to understand the limits you're pushed to. I used to be a very placid person but I became extremely violent when he used to start beating me up.

"I started to lose control and had come very close to knifing him."

Lisa's relationship lasted for more than three years.

"It was total loss of control because of the mental and physical abuse, the constant, constant abuse," she said.

"I used to snap and lose control to the point where I wouldn't even remember what I'd done."

Dave, 34, from Oxford, was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend.

He was given probation and is undergoing therapy to help him deal with his anger in a non-violent way.

"There is never a good reason for violence," he said.

"I'm not against the changes as such but they have to be applied fairly to men as well as women.

"If you start accepting evidence of long-term pressure it has to work both ways. When it comes down to it all excuses for murder are pathetic."

Dave admitted punching his partner in the head, drawing blood, and trying to strangle her.

"I had my hands round her throat," he said.

"It wasn't anything to do with the original argument, I just wanted the screaming and shouting to stop. I totally lost my grip on reality."

Dave thinks women who are being abused should not let things build up for years.

"There are two people in a relationship," he said. "In my case I could have quit; she could have quit. It's both people's responsibility."

He said he is glad he went to court and received help, adding that he and his girlfriend are still together.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version