People of The Philippines v. Marivic Genosa

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People of the Philippines v.

Marivic Genosa
Marivic Genosa admitted to killing her husband after a quarrel in their house
and was sentenced to death in 1998. The Supreme Court of the Philippines
heard an appeal of this decision under the pretense that Ms. Genosa was a
victim of battered woman syndrome (BWS). The appeal posited that the
consistent abuse Genosa faced at the hands of her husband had caused BWS
which meant she was in a constantly threatened state and acted in self-
defense when she killed him. The court ruled that as a victim of BWS, her
husband’s cumulative provocation had broken down her self-control and
made the murder an act of passion. The court repealed Ms. Genosa’s death
sentence and released her in consideration of her six years spent in prison.
This is a landmark case in acknowledging the deep psychological impact
abusive relationships have on women. By setting a legal precedent to
consider BWS as an extenuating and real circumstance, the Supreme Court
promoted a stronger legal recognition of and protection for abused women.

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