I, like many people in Victoria, was not acutely aware of the partial defence of provocation prior to 2004. My watershed moment was the Ramage case. The sense of confusion and injustice that followed the trial and verdict in Ramage has driven me to want to better understand the operation of this law and to champion for a change in practice. This book is the result of that effort. In seeking to better understand the operation of the law of provocation and attempts at its reform there are many people who have not only enriched my research experience but have been integral to getting this book across the finishing line. First and foremost are those who were involved in the research itself. Throughout this book I draw heavily on the experiences and perceptions of those working within the English, Victorian and New South Wales criminal justice systems. This research would not have been possible without the willingness of the 101 legal practitioners and policy representatives whose detailed discussions with me enriched and informed my understanding of the operation of the law of provocation and the effects of its reform. Thank you for allowing me such a privileged insight into your often difficult and challenging experiences with the law of homicide.