Murder law changes proposed

The Government will today reveal details of proposed changes to the UK's murder laws which would allow people who kill their partners to use a new defence. People in England and Wales who kill after years of domestic abuse would be able to argue that they were "seriously wronged" by the "words and conduct" of their partners, and - if successful - be convicted of manslaughter, not murder.

The plans follow a Law Commission report two years ago which recommended wide-ranging changes to existing legislation. The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, said the Government's proposals would bring murder laws "right up to date".

Key to the reforms is the scrapping of the existing so-called "provocation defence" under which those who experience sexual jealousy after their partners have an affair and act on the spur of the moment can plead that as a provocation, but those who experience a 'slow burn' of domestic abuse cannot.