Up to 40% of women who commit suicide have been abused

The former Tory leader called for a new homicide offence of "liability for suicide" to be created.

It follows the case of a woman from Southall, west London, who hanged herself - allegedly after 25 years of abuse by her husband.

He was prosecuted for manslaughter, but the Court of Appeal ruled the offence did not apply in such cases.

Mr Duncan Smith said under existing laws, it is extremely difficult to prosecute abusers once the victim has killed themselves.

The Chingford and Woodford Green MP opened the debate on his Liability for Suicide Bill in the House of Commons on Wednesday, with a second reading set for Friday.

Psychological abuse

He also argued that the definition of diminished responsibility be expanded - to properly recognise psychological injury.

He said many people believed that there were "often connections" between suicide and events that had happened before the suicide, but the law was based on an 1861 act, drafted before psychological abuse was understood.

"It is vital that any legislation should simply recognise that a defendant's abusive behaviour is capable of playing a significant and causal role in the suicide of their victim," he said.

Statistics suggest that, in 2000, between 30% and 40% of women who killed themselves were victims of domestic violence.