Dear readers, in this article, we will examine in detail how the “unjust provocation” reduction, one of the most debated topics of the Turkish Penal Code, is applied in the crime of intentional homicide. Unjust provocation is a situation that causes a person to commit a crime with sudden anger or a violent emotional reaction, usually resulting from an unjust behavior of the victim. This situation is considered an important reason for reducing the responsibility of the perpetrator in criminal law.
What is Unjust Provocation?
Unjust provocation is a reason regulated in Article 29 of the Turkish Penal Code that directly affects the perpetrator’s crime. This situation indicates that the perpetrator acts outside of his normal mind and will, and that the victim is also responsible to some extent for the commission of the crime.
Unjust Provocation in the Crime of Intentional Homicide
In order for the unjust provocation reduction to be applied in a serious crime such as intentional homicide, certain conditions must come together. These conditions are as follows:
A provocation: The victim must have committed a wrongful act that will cause anger or severe pain in the perpetrator.
The perpetrator is in a state of anger or severe distress: The perpetrator experiences sudden anger or severe emotional breakdown in response to the victim’s wrongful act.
The crime is a result of this situation: The crime committed by the perpetrator is a direct result of the anger or severe distress he/she experiences.
Unjust Provocation Discount Rate
The unjust provocation discount rate is determined according to factors such as the severity of the provocation and the psychological state of the perpetrator at the time of the crime. The Turkish Penal Code has determined the lower limit of the penalty to be given in the case of unjust provocation. However, the court may determine a penalty above or below this limit depending on the nature of the incident.
Areas of Application of Unjust Provocation Discount
Unjust provocation discount can be applied not only to the crime of intentional homicide but also to other crimes. However, the above-mentioned conditions must be present for the discount to be applied to every crime.
Evaluation Together with Unjust Provocation and Other Reasons
Unjust provocation can also be evaluated together with other reasons for penalty reduction. For example, situations such as the perpetrator being under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be taken into consideration in the application of unjust provocation discount.