Following on from an earlier consultation paper by the Law Commission (Consultation paper 173, ISBN 0117302597) published in October 2003, this report makes recommendations on the law and practice of the partial defences to murder of diminished responsibility and provocation, as covered by the Homicide Act 1957, with particular regard to domestic violence situations. It also considers whether there should be a partial defence to murder in cases involving the use of excessive force in self-defence. Appendices include sections detailing: research into the ways in which the law of provocation and diminished responsibility are working; a brief empirical survey of public opinion relating to partial defences to murder; a synopsis of sample cases of female defendants convicted of murder; and a sociological history of provocation and diminished responsibility.

This book provides a leading point of reference in the field of partial defences to murder and with respect to the mental condition defences of loss of control and diminished responsibility in general. The work includes contributions from leading specialists from different jurisdictions. Divided into two parts, the first provides an analysis from the perspective of the UK, looking at particular concerns such as domestic violence, revenge and mixed motive killings, mistaken beliefs. The second part presents a comparative and international view to provide a wider background of how alternative systems treat issues of human frailty short of full insanity (loss of control, diminished responsibility) in the context of the criminal law.

Drawing on cases, Stark identifies the problems with our current approach to domestic violence, outlines the components of coercive control, and then uses this alternate framework to analyse the cases of battered women charged with criminal offenses directed at their abusers.

This text provides an introduction to criminal law. It includes discussion of important case law developments in the law of provocation, consent, conspiracy and duress, and also discusses the Law Commission's proposals on the law of murder.

A Law Commission consultation paper 'A new homicide act for England and Wales?' was published as LCCP 177 (ISBN 0117302643) in April 2006.

This collection of essays honours the work of Sir Gerald Gordon CBE QC LLD (1929-). In modern times few, if any, individuals can have been as important to a single country's criminal law as Sir Gerald has been to the criminal law of Scotland. His monumental work The Criminal Law of Scotland (1967) is the foundation of modern Scottish criminal law and is recognised internationally as a major contribution to academic work on the subject. Elsewhere, he has made significant contributions as an academic, judge and as a member of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission. Reflecting the academic rigour and practical application of Sir Gerald's work, this volume includes essays on criminal law theory, substantive law and evidence and procedure by practitioners and academics within and outside of Scotland, including contributions from England, Ireland and the USA.