| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to make for England and Wales (and for courts-martial wherever sitting) amendments of the law relating to homicide and the trial and punishment of murder, and for Scotland amendments of the law relating to the trial and punishment of murder and attempts to murder. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c. 11 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 21 March 1957 |
| Commencement | 21 March 1957[1] |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of the Homicide Act 1957 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Homicide Act 1957 (5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c. 11) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was enacted as a partial reform of the common law offence of murder in English law by abolishing the doctrine of constructive malice (except in limited circumstances), reforming the partial defence of provocation, and by introducing the partial defences of diminished responsibility and suicide pact. It restricted the use of the death penalty for murder.
Similar provisions to Part I of this Act was enacted for Northern Ireland by Part II of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1966.
- ^ The Act came into force on the date it received royal assent because no other date was specified.