The issue came to light after the tragic death of Millicent woman Synamin Bell, who was killed by her partner. The killer pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis that he had killed her in excessive self-defence while experiencing paranoid psychosis brought on by the consumption of psychoactive drugs.

Under the reforms, offenders can no longer rely on the defence of excessive self-defence in instances where their belief that their actions were necessary and reasonable to defend themselves was substantially affected by the voluntary consumption of illicit substances.

The changes have commenced as of today.