Umaru used rat poison for the murderers — just one week after her arranged marriage.
The question is how the law should treat a young girl in such a circumstance. Her family and her community had abandoned her and subjected her to a marriage that would be considered a form of rape in many countries. Yet, she reportedly committed four murders.
In some countries, she could claim a battered spouse defense. These cases often involve responses where women killed in atypical ways and often after attack or abuse has occurred. I have seen cases in my career where women have killed days after an attack. including one years ago where a woman drenched her husband with gasoline and lit him on fire.
How much of a mitigating factor should the age and arranged marriage be in such a case? Do you think it could be a complete defense as a form of insanity?
Source: Montreal Gazette