NCJ Number
185979
Editor(s)
Stanley Meng Heong Yeo
Date Published
1990
Length
304 pages
Annotation
This is a collection of 16 essays on defenses to murder which reduce the charge to manslaughter.
Abstract
The book is divided into four main sections, covering the defenses of provocation, diminished responsibility, excessive self-defense, and intoxication. The first part contains five essays regarding provocation as a partial justification, not a partial excuse; the abolition of provocation; provocation or self-defense for battered women who kill; provocation in New Zealand; and contemporary provocation law. The section on diminished responsibility contains three essays, including a critique of diminished responsibility and several individuals' viewpoints on the defense. The third section reviews applying excuse theory to excessive self-defense, excessive self-defense in Australia, and excessive defense in Irish law. The fourth section reviews manslaughter and intoxication, the Australian perspective on intoxication defenses, and medical aspects of intoxication. A final section comments on the law of self-defense, critically analyzes the various partial excuses to murder, and proposes a more holistic approach to this area of the law. Table of cases, notes, postscript, index of cases