The sentencing range for manslaughter of a partner or former partner in the context of relationship breakdown with limited mitigating factors is 8 to 11 years' imprisonment. Where an offender's account of the killing is rejected as untruthful and the circumstances remain unexplained, the sentencing judge is not bound to adopt the most favourable version; the burden remains on the applicant to demonstrate the sentencing discretion miscarried. An unexecuted offer to plead guilty to manslaughter does not qualify as a mitigating factor. General deterrence is a very significant factor in such cases.
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