Commission extends homicide reform response deadline

The Scottish Law Commission is allowing several more weeks for the public to respond to its Discussion Paper on the Mental Element in Homicide.

Published in May, the in-depth paper highlights how the Scots law of murder and culpable homicide, which remain common law crimes, has developed unique features that now raise questions over whether it remains fit for purpose in the 21st century, and asks whether it should be reformed and restated in statute. (Click here for a Journal feature by the Commission.)

Announcing the extension the Commission said that given the range and complex nature of the issues covered and the overlap of the consultation period with summer leave months, the Homicide team has extended the deadline for responses from 27 August to 15 October 2021.

"We hope that this will allow more time for busy stakeholders and members of the public to submit a consultation response giving their views on the important issues discussed in the paper", it added.

The paper and related materials can be accessed here.