The state Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would establish a separate crime of domestic violence.
The bill has been called Joshua’s Law, after 9-year-old Joshua Savyon, who was killed by his father Muni Savyon during a supervised visit at the Manchester YWCA last year.
His father then killed himself.
Senator Donna Soucy, a Manchester Democrat, says recognizing domestic violence as a crime is an important distinction.
“We, today, in passing this law, have an opportunity. We have an opportunity to make sure that other mothers don’t suffer the same tragedy that Becky did.”
Soucy was referring to Becky Ranes of Amherst, Joshua’s mother who was in the audience during the Senate’s vote this morning.
New Hampshire is one of just 15 states that don’t consider domestic violence a specific crime.
The bill now moves to the House.
