MSPs pass law to review potential domestic abuse deaths

MSPs have voted to pass a Bill which would see reviews for deaths linked to domestic abuse.

The Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill comes in two parts, one of which modernises parts of the justice system, including allowing court appearances remotely as well as the use of images in place of physical evidence in courts.

But the most consequential part of the Bill will see some deaths of people who have previously interacted with domestic abuse services be reviewed.

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Such reviews will not be done to ascertain blame, but to see if lessons could have been learned to prevent the death.

The Bill was passed unanimously with the backing of 115 MSPs.

Speaking in the debate before the vote in Holyrood, Justice Secretary Angela Constance