[2001] EWCA Crim 2834

Cohabitees were not afforded the same concessions as a husband and wife in giving evidence against each other, that of being competent but not compellable witnesses. When directing the jury on the issue of provocation, an accused's alcoholism was not a characteristic to be taken into account when the accused had not called evidence to show that his alcohol abuse was relevant to the issue of provocation.

CA (Crim Div) (Kennedy LJ, Hughes J, Penry-Davey J)

11/12/2001