Introduction to Spousal Abuse
Spousal abuse is a highly underestimated offence that continues to remain hidden between the law and justice. This controversial type of violence is a serious crime that is not directly penalized through today’s law system. Instead, it is the individual’s actions that must be charged through the Canadian Criminal Code. On average, a Canadian woman is murdered every six days by a current or previous partner. Many cases of domestic violence portray the husband physically and/or emotionally abusing their wife. However, domestic violence can go both ways. Two out of three reported spousal abuse victims are women and the other 33 percent are male. Typically, emotional abuse is more common in men, whereas women
…show more content…
Since victims cannot press charges against the abuser themselves, they must receive aid from the police force. Some possible charges police can act upon with sufficient evidence are; “intimidation (section 423), uttering threats (section 264.1) forcible confinement (section 279), indecent or harassing telephone calls (section 372) assault (sections 265 and 266), assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm (section 267) aggravated assault (section 268) sexual assault (sections 265 and 271) sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm (section 272) aggravated sexual assault (section 273) causing death in the course of committing criminal harassment (first degree murder) (subsection 231(6)).” (http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/har/part4.html) When there is not enough evidence for conviction, there are other possibilities for the victim to …show more content…
With this defense, these victims claim to truly fear for their life, and believed the death of their spouse is the only way to escape their tragic-life-threatening relationship. In today’s society, “Battering is the single major cause of injury to women, exceeding rapes, muggings and auto accidents combined” (http://www.domesticabuseshelter.org/infodomesticviolence.htm). In multiple cases, death threats have been made with the belief no one could help them, including our justice system. This leads to victims finally standing up to their abuser and putting an end to the years of suffering. Victims who commit this crime truly believe death is the only way to end this