The accused's lead defence lawyer, Ian Brookie, in the Grace Millane trial. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
The so called 'rough sex gone wrong' defence came under intense criticism during the trial of the killer of British backpacker, Grace Millane. Her killer said she died accidentally after asking to be strangled during sex, but his defence was rejected and he was convicted of her murder. Subsequent UK research has revealed a tenfold rise in the past 20 years in the number of times 'rough sex gone wrong' type claims were made in UK courts. Women's rights campaigners say killers in the UK, New Zealand and elsewhere are becoming increasingly aware of this defence and its potential success. Now, the UK Justice Minister is to ban the defence. Susan Edwards is a barrister and professor of law at the University of Buckingham who has looked at cases in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.
