No person can consent to their own death, or to injury to cause death

[Dangertime]

Verdict on the Grace Millane case - murder

Justice Moore to the jury:
"Consent is not relevant to murder. No person under New Zealand law can consent to their own death, or to injury to cause death" and Justice Moore tells the jury that "with all that in mind, they have to answer the question - Did Grace consent to be strangled by the accused to the degree and duration of force applied to her neck?"

(Quoting from the live coverage)

www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/117069680/grace-millane-murder-trial-latest-updates

Well thank fuck there's at least one judge out there in the world that talks some sense.

Choking during sex should be outlawed in any part of the world that claims to be civilised.

So relieved that the jury made the right decision. I don't know how her parents were able to sit in court and listen to the defence make a case for her death being a sex game gone wrong, and to hear her sexual history being discussed as if that made her somehow complicit in her own death. That would have broken me. I hope this verdict helps them in some way, although I don't know how they will ever get over their daughters murder and the trial. At least there has been some justice.

It was absolutely horrible but so relieved the accident during sex defence didn't work.

Thank you justice Moore. I hope this influences cases here and elsewhere too.

I thought choking was against the law over there?

My thought for her poor family

I am so relieved that this man hasn’t been allowed to blame her for her own death. I was really worried there wouldn’t be a guilty verdict but in the closing speech from the prosecution they expressed the fact that at some point, her body would have gone limp. To me, that is a fact there was no getting away from and proved a lot of his defence was a lie.

The fact he photographed her after death, watched porn and went on a date, then had the audacity to plead anything other than guilty sickens me. I am glad he hasn’t been allowed to worm his way out!

The dissection of her sexual history and preferences has been sickening, as if she's somehow to blame for being murdered, and then posed as a corpse while her murderer trawled porn sites and took pictures of her posed naked body.

'She liked it, your Honour...' needs to STOP being a defence for men killing women in acts of sexual violence.

I'm relieved for her family and hope this is a watershed moment for cases of this type.

It amazes me that NZ law gives anonymity to a defendant accused of murder. I assume that will be removed now. Wonder who else might come forward once his name and face are public. I hope he gets a very long sentence. Her poor family. Rest in peace, Grace.

I am relieved at this verdict too.

But I don't understand why Grace's murderer is still anonymous. Anyone else know?

I saw this announced and thought finally, one arsehole which didn't get away with it. I'm so glad. Thank you Justice Moore.

So relieved. It was appalling to hear the defence. Driving into work with DD the newsreader uncritically chatted about "sex games gone wrong". Had that discussion with daughter again.
So sorry for her parents having to listen to that.

I thought choking was against the law over there?
I believe the new law was brought in the day after Grace's murder and so wouldn't apply in this case. Possible the jury are aware though and that may have been an influence?

RIP Grace.

At least New Zealand have their heads screwed on!

But I don't understand why Grace's murderer is still anonymous. Anyone else know?

I'd been wondering that too Durtysarf. I thought it might have been until there was a conviction but clearly not. I found this which suggests it is not automatic but mainly if there is a risk of preventing a fair trial:

i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/117026307/grace-millane-murder-trial-accuseds-name-suppressed-but-british-readers-know-his-identity

RIP Grace

My condolences to Graces family - I’m so sorry for your loss.

RIP Grace. I’m so sorry for your family

I’m glad the murdering bastard hasn’t got away with it. Hopefully our UK judges might take heed as well. I do think it’s appalling that a murder victim’s sexual history can be raked over in court. Even if a person was previously engaging in BDSM type sex it does not mean they automatically consented to everything with that particular partner at that particular time, and it certainly can never mean they consented to their own death.

It’s a good verdict but it’s such a terrible tragedy for Grace’s family.

So relieved to wake up to this news this morning.

RIP Grace. to your family. Am very relieved that the NZ legal system prevailed to get you justice.

I wept hearing the verdict. And my heartfelt sympathies to her parents for having to listen to the excruciating details, so much of which sought to blame Grace for her own death. Why is it that murderers and rapists find it so easy to find other men to support their twisted view that women are culpable because of their alleged previous behaviour?

Continued name suppression is due to further/ongoing charges relating to other cases, according to my social media. It's a small place and people seem to know who he is, he just can't be plastered on the front page, yet.

So relieved at the verdict. But he chose to make the family suffer again by going to trial and that's (also) unforgivable.
I had prepared myself for a watered down verdict. Feel somewhat glad to be able to direct my anger at him, not the system.

I'm so pleased his revolting defence failed to convince that jury. Am I'm not surprised that there are other charges. I wonder if there will be other victims who come forward once his name is released? I can't believe that sort of violent psychopathic behaviour comes out of nowhere.

RIP Grace.

Thinking of Grace and her family and my thanks to Justice Moore.

Sensible direction from the judge. This would also put an end to the idea of euthanasia in NZ.
.

His behaviour afterwards and the testimony of the other young woman were key I'd say. Something needs to be done about this kind of defence though.

That's interesting BigFatLiar. But we are having a referendum on that issue and I hope Grace's murder isn't dragged out for political gain.

I'm grateful to the judge and the detective in charge. He showed how deeply he cared about justice for Grace.