Loss of control Flashcards
What type of defence is it to murder and what would be the alternative charge?
- Partial
- Voluntary manslaughter
Why is there a serious need for distinction of murder or manslaughter?
- Fair labelling
- Questionable MR fault
- Minimal criminalisation
- Proportionality
Mawgridge 1707 (Old provocation law)
- Challenged another man to a dual
- Other man then threw a bottle at D so he drew sword and stabbed him
- Only Manslaughter under the old provocation law
Where can the old provocation law be found?
- Section 3 Homicide Act 1957
What is the old provocation law criteria?
- Things said or done to provoke
- D suffered a sudden and temporary loss of control
- The provocation was enough to make a reasonable man do as D did
Who proposed reforms to the old provocation law and why?
- The law commission because by requiring for the LOC to be sudden it was protecting men who kill for infidelity
- The law should push people to control their anger
Where can law on LOC be found?
- Section 4 and 5 Coroners and Justice Act 2009
What is the LOC criteria?
- D loses control as a result of a triggering event
- The triggering event must be qualifying
- The LOC must be objectively understandable `
Who decides on the outcome of the case?
- The Jury
What effect did the new criteria have on the law?
- No requirement for the V to have caused the LOC
- LOC need not be sudden
- LOC was still not available for revenge
Jewell 2014
- Shotgun into someones face
- COA said there was not enough sufficient evidence to prove LOC existed
What are the 2 qualifying triggers?
- Fear of serious violence
- A sense of being seriously wronged by things said or done
What is qualifying trigger 1 and what does it cover and when is it not available?
- Fear of serious violence
- Covers excess self-defence
- Not available where D incites the violence
Ahluwalia 1993
- Women abused by partner
- She lit fire to his bed and killed him
- She had fear of serious violence
- It was excessive self- defence amounting to LOC
R v Thornton 1996
- Appellant killed alcoholic abusive husband
- Was excessive self-defence
- She had a fear of serious violence