I don’t have an SO so my answer is conjectural. No, I would not turn her in. I wouldn’t care to have a confessed murderer mad at me.
Like a lot of people have already said, my reaction would depend on the circumstances. It is conceivable that the my response could range from “well, that’s certainly understandable, but don’t let it happen again” to “I understand why you did that but that’s the end of the relationship and you have one week to disappear before I take it to the proper authorities” to “that is entirely unacceptable, you have clearly gone bananas, and I think I’d better kill you myself and then turn myself in.”
I have actually experienced something close to this. Not a murder, but something, in my view, worse. To suddenly find out the person that you love doesn’t actually exist, and is only a mask held up by a psychopath is a trauma beyond description.
You’d be surprised how difficult it is to get the police to take you seriously in these circumstances. Their immediate assumption is that the romance has gone sour and you are just trying to cause trouble for the ex. You will find yourself to be the one under suspicion, treated with contempt and suspicion if only because you are close to the miscreant. At best it will be assumed that you’ve known all along and only now chose to come forward.
Also take into account the fact that, even provided that you have hard evidence, and the crime is something heinous, the chances are good that this person will be back home for dinner by the second night. And will continue to be home for months before the trial starts. and may or may not get off on a technicality. And knows every friend and relative you have, and every place you might hide, and every source of income available to you. And has legal rights to visitation with your children, if any.
Now, what are you really going to do with that information?
Find a better class of loved one.
Murder them and then go crash at Qin’s or on Skald’s couch. They’re cool.
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I hope you got safely rid of your bad apple, TruCelt.
Qin’s just a kid; you’ll have to clear it with his folks. if I’m in Evil!Skald mode I might approve of your turn to the dark side, or might not, but in either case I’m going to exploit your situation for my own advancement or amusment.
Nope. In my case, it could be protected by attorney/client privilege and spousal privilege, so I have no duty to report it. Knowing The Druidess as I do, if she killed someone, they probably needed killing.
It would depend on the nature of the relationship.
My spouse: I would consult a criminal defense attorney on my own behalf and find out what are my legal obligations. I would also ask for advice about any moral obligations that may arise. While spousal privilege means I cannot be compelled to testify against him, I may choose to do so, if, after receiving legal counsel, I decide it’s what I want to do. I would inform my spouse that I had consulted an attorney (but not necessarily divulge the details of what was discussed). I would then tell my spouse that he must consult an attorney about how to make this right. If he refuses, I would divorce him, then consult my attorney about any changes in my legal obligations.
A relative or friend: I would advise them to seek legal counsel and tell them I will be consulting my attorney as I probably have a legal obligation to report to law enforcement what they told me. (“Accessory after the fact.”) Then I would consult my attorney and act upon his advice.
Would the knowledge change the nature of the relationship? I find killing in self-defense is sometimes unavoidable and can tolerate its occurrence. I believe people should be mature enough to keep themselves from killing in anger, but it happens and is something that, if the killer truly regrets, repents and atones, can be forgiven. But I do not condone pre-meditated killing, and I will stop associating with anyone who confesses to and attempts to justify committing a planned killing.
Obviously I’d want to hear the details of the murder. Knowing my partner as well as I do, I’d be very surprised if it weren’t justifiable.
And I’d sleep with one eye open . . . . . just kidding.