Similarly, the state’s obligation to employ due diligence in prosecuting and punishing domestic violence may conflict with the woman’s right to maximum safety, since she may have good reason to believe that prosecution will increase the level of danger to herself, either during the waiting period until a conviction, or afterwards, for example, if the man is sentenced to a heavy fine, or a short prison sentence, and then is at liberty to retaliate.
Trancher le nœud gordien ne saurait résoudre ces tensions.