Bill would bar use of panic defense
By Josh Richman, STAFF WRITER


The sort of panic defense used in the case of a slain transgendered Newark teen last year would be barred by a bill introduced by a South Bay lawmaker.

Assembly Bill 1160 would change voluntary manslaughters legal definition so defendants cant evade full responsibility for their actions by claiming they were provoked to kill by their panic upon discovering the victims disability, gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

We should not allow criminal defendants to blame their victims, said the bills author, Assemblywoman