Clause 45 — Meaning of "qualifying trigger"

Part of Bill Presented – in the House of Commons at 7:45 pm on 9 November 2009.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Dominic Grieve Dominic Grieve Shadow Secretary of State (Justice) 7:45, 9 November 2009

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. At the risk of taking up more of her time, I point out that she knows that clause 44(1) already does not apply if

"in doing or being a party to the killing" somebody

"acted in a considered desire for revenge."

That is a very important clause that I entirely agree with, but the fact that it is there means that the examples she has been giving about killing on the ground of sexual infidelity based on a feeling of vengeance could not come into the picture anyway. That is why it is such nonsense to include this provision, and why it will be impossible for a judge and jury to disentangle the facts when they are all mixed up together.