to what extent do it should a suspects circumstance and motives excuse the commission of a crime?

The clues all point to Minnie being an abused wife which does, in the minds of many readers, justify her actions. Minnie Wright used to be an extremely vibrant young woman, and it was impossible to resist her joyful personality. However, after marrying John Wright, she becomes a veritable recluse. Her house is out of sight and John does not allow her to have a telephone. She has no children and her friends do not visit her. She loses hope, joy, and meaning, and the only thing that brings even a modicum of those things is that bird that her husband brutally kills. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters see the real crime as what John did to his wife: completely cutting her off from society.