Crime of passion

A crime of passion, in popular usage, refers to a crime in which the perpetrator commits a crime, especially assault or murder, against a spouse or other loved one because of sudden strong impulse such as a jealous rage or heartbreak rather than as a premeditated crime. A typical crime of passion, for example, might involve a husband who discovers his wife has made him a cuckold and proceeds to brutally batter or even kill his wife or the man with whom she was involved. It is important to note that women are equally capable of such violent behaviour eg Ruth Ellis.

While the concept of the crime of passion is not officially recognized in law, it is sometimes used by defense lawyers because in popular opinion, if not in courts of law, the commission of or of grievous bodily harm is viewed more sympathetically when it is a crime of passion. Whilst the actions of the perpetrator are never condoned, is generally believed that there has been some degree of provocation, which mitigates the offence.

Societies in which honor forms a governing principle may react similarly to altercations caused by personal insults or may defer immediate action preferring to consult among family members and act in concert.

In some countries, notably France, crime passionnel (or crime of passion) was a valid defense during murder cases; during the 19th century, some cases could be a custodial sentence for two years for the murderer, while the spouse was dead; this ended in France as the Napoleonic code was updated in the 1970s so that a specific father's authority upon his whole family was over.

See also