A Women's Manifesto Contact Women for Socialism c/o 57 Birnam Road, London, N4. Tel: 071 272 7649.
April 4,1992 : No-19 Get the debate going!
Order copies, get the sponsors, send donations THE RECENT release M of June Scotland, acquitted of murdering her husband - who tortured and abused her for many years -has been welcomed as a victory by groups campaigning around violence The attitude of both the jury, who accepted her plea of manslaughter on crounds of diminished responsibility, and the judge, who sentenced her to a probation order, doubtedly been affected by the campaigning around Sara Thornton's case.
But many questions remain. For the plea of diminished responsibility upheld in this case is a plea MMEN of temporary insanity", not of selfIn the best legal tradition, the central issue has been avoided. A way round thomy questions has been found, which maintains the system, keeps the premises it is based on intact, but does not out.
rage public opinion The legal detour taken is a long established one - labelling women who commit crimes, particularly ones involving vi olence, as mad not bad. While welcoming June: lease, the campaig. ning must There are still women for killing abusive husbands, and the law still reHiss econome door da justified self-defence, rather than the aberrations of a deranged temale mind.
JUSTICE FOR WOMEN, a group campaigning around domestic violence, can be contacted c'o 22, Finsbury Park Road, London, N4.
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