South African Criminal Law and Battered Women Who Kill: Discussion Document 2

Battered women who kill their abusers in South Africa often face barriers to accessing criminal law defences to murder. This document explores the reforms necessary for women to gain access to the defences. It continues the discussion that began in Legal Defences For Battered Women Who Kill Their Abusers: Discussion Document 1. While the previous research focused on comparative law and foreign experiences with legal defences for these women, this research looks specifically at South African law and experiences.