Battered Spouse Syndrome

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-23-170, RELATING TO ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE CONCERNING BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, FOUNDATION, NOTICE, AND EXPERT AND LAY TESTIMONY, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO FURTHER DEFINE ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME AND ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE WHEN THERE IS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF PRIOR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT AND A THREAT OF A VIOLENT ASSAULT OR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT BY THE VICTIM OCCURS WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF THE ALLEGED OFFENSE.