24 Feb 2020

Domestic violence 'akin to entrapment'

From Nine To Noon, 9:08 am on 24 February 2020
Karen Ruddelle in the Auckland High Court.

Karen Ruddelle in the Auckland High Court. Photo: RNZ / Matthew Theunissen

Two expert family violence law advisors say justice has not been served in the conviction of Karen Anne Ruddelle for the manslaughter of  her abusive partner.

Karen Anne Ruddelle claimed she was acting in self-defence when she stabbed Joseph Ngapera in November 2018. Her lawyers argued she feared for her life and that of her son due to the violence she'd suffered at the hands of him in the past.

Professor Julia Tolmie and Professor Denise Wilson are both former members of the Family Violence Death Review Committee that was set up to reduce the number of deaths from family violence.

Last year that lead to tougher laws for strangulation offences. They say the Ruddelle verdict was a disappointment and she should have been acquitted.

They join Kathryn Ryan to explain what needs to change and why they think domestic violence is a form of entrapment.