Voluntary Manslaughter

Question 1

What are the three special defenses to a charge of murder? What happens when one of these is successfully used?

Answer 1

• Diminished responsibility
• Loss of control
• Suicide pact
• When successful the offence of murder is reduced to manslaughter

Question 2

In what Act is the defense of diminished responsibility set out? In what act is it amended?

Answer 2

• Set out in the Homicide Act 1957

- Amended by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009