Issues in criminal justice: Murder

Lord Phillips discusses complex issues relating to homicide following the Law Commission’s proposed reforms.

“What particularly is wrong with the law at the moment that calls for legislation? First, it remains in a state of flux. Secondly, and perhaps more seriously, the current law does not ensure that the most culpable offences of homicide are classified as murder and the less serious as manslaughter."

“The Law Commission said that the object of their proposed reforms was to rationalise the general law of homicide; to produce a comprehensible and fair legal structure that non-lawyers can understand and accept. I think that their proposals go a long way to achieving that end.”