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Example of Adequate Provocation

7 October, 2015 - 09:57

A traditional example of provocation that iadequate to reduce a crime from murder to manslaughter is an observation by one spouse of another spouse in the act of adultery. 1 For example, José comes home from work early and catches his wife in bed with his best friend. He becomes so enraged that he storms over to the dresser, grabs his handgun, and shoots and kills her. Clearly, José acts with intent to kill. However, the victim provoked this intent with an act that could cause a reasonablpersoto kill. Thus José has probably committed voluntary manslaughter in this case, not murder.