Is sleepwalking a legitimate defence for murder? Are victims of family violence protected against the premeditated killing of their abuser?

Professor David Field has worked as a public prosecutor, a criminal defence lawyer and as the solicitor for prosecutions in Queensland, a post he occupied for nine years.

He spoke to William Isdale about some extraordinary crimes that have resulted in changes to the criminal law, and the precedents these cases have then established.

Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio.

Additional Audio

• CBC Digital Archive: 1990: Supreme Court accepts battered wife syndrome defence
• The New York Times:‘Dingo’s Got My Baby’ Trial by Media Retro Report
• ABC: Stafford lawyer calls for Holland murder inquiry
• ABC: Azaria case closes after 32yrs
• ABC Radio National: Battered woman defence
• SBS: Is the provocation defence allowing killers to get off lightly?
• Global Newspaper: Ivan Milat Inside the mind of a serial killer
• Channel TEN: Sydney’s 5:00PM newscast
• PBS: The Brain with David Eagleman

Music

• Law and Order theme by Mike Post

• Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria

• Murder Mystery Royalty Free Swing & Mystery Music

David Field’s book Crimes That Shaped The Law contains true stories of crimes that have resulted in changes to the criminal law. In many of these cases, a miscarriage of justice precipitated reform.

William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.