International Law

Scotland Repeals Spousal Testimony Law

A husband, wife or civil partner can currently only be required to give evidence against their partner if they are the victim of an offence by them.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the law has meant spouses have been able to "escape justice".

He said: "This is not acceptable and has resulted in the past in people marrying their partners prior to trial, for example on a charge of abusing their children, just to avoid having to give evidence against them.

?The Scottish Government has now decided it wants to repeal Section 264 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 and Section 130 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

- Annie Noa Kenet, Toronto

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Full post as published by Wise Law Blog on May 04, 2008 (boomark / email).