A person is only able to use force when it is self-defense and they are threatened with imminent harm. If a person strikes another person on the condition of future harm and self-defense, they may not be entitled to rely on self-defense (Brody & Acker, 2010). When a woman assaults or kills her abusive husband, it is especially relevant (Brody & Acker, 2010).
Battered Woman Syndrome theory was developed in the 1970’s for abused women. It is sometimes used in court as a mitigation in homicide cases where the battered spouse kills their abuser. As of 2000 it is admissible in 39 states. In 2000, 440 men and 1,247 women were killed by an intimate partner (Strucke & Hajjar, 2010). When you look at these statistics, you can clearly see there …show more content…
As a police officer, I have personally seen woman who were so broken down mentally and physically by their spouse that they could not function, they no longer were able to make competent decisions. They feel they can no longer take the pain, something must be done. They began to think there is no other way out except to kill the person who is inflicting the pain. When a child is involved, the stress on the woman is much higher and her state of mind is only capable of irrational thoughts. What I would say is put yourself in the abused persons place. If you are abused repeatedly and threatened that if you leave or go to get help, they will be killed, what would you …show more content…
At first there is only minor abusive incidents, then there comes the acute battering and violence. These are then followed by a loving remorseful, and charming spouse who promises never to hurt them again (Strucke & Hajiar, 2010). Add to these phases the fact that often the abused spouse is not allowed to associate with friends or family you are better able to see why they stay with their abusing spouse. Other problems that I have personally witnessed is an abusive spouse will relocate to a different city so that the wife has no familiarity at all with her surroundings. Their phone calls are monitored they are not allowed to communicate with the outside world.
You can look at the case of Ibn-Tamas v. United States where doctor Ibn-Tamas and his wife had alternating periods of relative calm and violent episodes (Strucke & Hajiar, 2010). The day Mrs. Ibn-Tamas shot her husband, they had been arguing. During the argument, doctor Ibn-Tamas repeatedly his pregnant wife, dragged her up a flight of stairs, and pointed a gun in her face while shouting at her to leave the house. When doctor Ibn-Tamas slowed his beating of his wife, she shot him (Strucke & Hajiar,
Battered Woman Syndrome theory was developed in the 1970’s for abused women. It is sometimes used in court as a mitigation in homicide cases where the battered spouse kills their abuser. As of 2000 it is admissible in 39 states. In 2000, 440 men and 1,247 women were killed by an intimate partner (Strucke & Hajjar, 2010). When you look at these statistics, you can clearly see there …show more content…
As a police officer, I have personally seen woman who were so broken down mentally and physically by their spouse that they could not function, they no longer were able to make competent decisions. They feel they can no longer take the pain, something must be done. They began to think there is no other way out except to kill the person who is inflicting the pain. When a child is involved, the stress on the woman is much higher and her state of mind is only capable of irrational thoughts. What I would say is put yourself in the abused persons place. If you are abused repeatedly and threatened that if you leave or go to get help, they will be killed, what would you …show more content…
At first there is only minor abusive incidents, then there comes the acute battering and violence. These are then followed by a loving remorseful, and charming spouse who promises never to hurt them again (Strucke & Hajiar, 2010). Add to these phases the fact that often the abused spouse is not allowed to associate with friends or family you are better able to see why they stay with their abusing spouse. Other problems that I have personally witnessed is an abusive spouse will relocate to a different city so that the wife has no familiarity at all with her surroundings. Their phone calls are monitored they are not allowed to communicate with the outside world.
You can look at the case of Ibn-Tamas v. United States where doctor Ibn-Tamas and his wife had alternating periods of relative calm and violent episodes (Strucke & Hajiar, 2010). The day Mrs. Ibn-Tamas shot her husband, they had been arguing. During the argument, doctor Ibn-Tamas repeatedly his pregnant wife, dragged her up a flight of stairs, and pointed a gun in her face while shouting at her to leave the house. When doctor Ibn-Tamas slowed his beating of his wife, she shot him (Strucke & Hajiar,