Legislation aimed at closing a loophole in self-defence laws has been approved by the South Australian Parliament following a case that sparked public outcry. The case involved Cody Edwards, who fatally assaulted his partner, Synamin Bell, with a baseball bat in their Mount Gambier home in 2022. At the time of the incident, Edwards was under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug and asserted that he believed he was acting in self-defence—an argument that allowed him to have his murder charge reduced to manslaughter.
Edwards received an 11-year prison sentence for his actions, which ignited a relentless campaign for legal reform led by Bell’s family. The newly passed legislation prohibits alleged murderers from invoking self-defence claims while under the influence of self-induced intoxication.
SA Attorney General Kyam Maher emphasized the importance of addressing gaps in the legal system, stating, “We wanted to make sure that where we saw gaps in the law, that we were addressing them.” He noted that the government did not want to delay action until a Royal Commission was convened, highlighting the immediate need for reform in cases like that of Synamin Bell.
Synamin’s brother, Paul Bell, expressed hope that similar changes could be enacted nationwide. He described the passing of the new law as “an emotional moment” and commended the South Australian government for its decisive action. Paul urged other states to adopt similar measures, reinforcing the belief that such necessary reforms should be universally implemented to prevent future miscarriages of justice.