Germany proposes reduction of murder sentence if murderer was "insulted"

originally posted by: Kandinsky
a reply to: Helicopter

It looks more like a revision of laws to allow discretion rather than being compelled to use the one-size-fits-all sentence of 'life.'

Acting out of despair or feelings of persecution could apply to a battered spouse who plans to kill their abusive partner. Or a child getting abused by a parent who then kills the parent.

I notice they already have the equivalent of 'intentional killing' that is different to that of 'murder.' It already runs from 5 to 15 years so perhaps Heiko Maas wants to rationalise the difference?

It could also apply to someone in a threat situation where there's a terrorist going around shooting people. Now, anyone who is in the vicinity is free to use whatever means to kill that terrorist.

originally posted by: stormcell

originally posted by: Kandinsky
a reply to: Helicopter

It looks more like a revision of laws to allow discretion rather than being compelled to use the one-size-fits-all sentence of 'life.'

Acting out of despair or feelings of persecution could apply to a battered spouse who plans to kill their abusive partner. Or a child getting abused by a parent who then kills the parent.

I notice they already have the equivalent of 'intentional killing' that is different to that of 'murder.' It already runs from 5 to 15 years so perhaps Heiko Maas wants to rationalise the difference?

It could also apply to someone in a threat situation where there's a terrorist going around shooting people. Now, anyone who is in the vicinity is free to use whatever means to kill that terrorist.

It'll be good to see more news on this as the process continues so we get a better idea of what it really means.

As for active terrorists? I reckon we can do whatever it takes to stop them. We can run them over, hit them with bricks or whatever comes to hand. The law of any country allows proportional violence in defence of the lives of others.