People of The Philippines v. Marivic Genosa
People of The Philippines v. Marivic Genosa
People of The Philippines v. Marivic Genosa
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 The court repealed Ms.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.