Normally such killings were preceded by long years of domestic abuse, which the State had a duty to curtail, for instance, by a restraining order, since it was a basic principle of justice that the perpetrator of violence and not the victims should be forced to leave the home.
Très souvent le meurtrier a fait subir des années de mauvais traitements à sa victime.  L'État a le devoir de faire cesser ce type de pratique en rendant notamment des ordonnances d'interdiction, étant donné que le principe fondamental est l'auteur des actes de violence, et non la victime, soit forcée de quitter le domicile.