Living in New Zealand is like living in the Twilight Zone.
Manipulation of the public has been honed to a fine art.
Case in point - the desire of some to remove the defence of provocation because it has been used to justify killing homosexuals who proposition the wrong guy. But until the Weatherston defence, there wasn't enough public outrage to justify the law change.
However, the daily updates of the apparently completely sane Weatherston trying to make out that Sophie Elliot made him torture and mutilate her to death has sent most of New Zealand over the edge. Rather than asking why on earth the Judge involved allowed such a defence when it was patently ridiculous, she allowed Weatherston to make a mockery of her court for five days.
Thus giving those who really loathe the idea that some men might kill another man who is coming on to them a reason, finally, to remove the defence of provocation. Nevermind the fact that if Sophie's mother had flipped out and murdered Weatherston in cold blood after finding Weatherston over her daughter's mutilated body, that provocation be a suitable defence. How many people would kill the murderer of their own child if faced with such a horrible scenario? And should they be deprived of a defence just because of a Government knee-jerk reaction?
Related Link: Provocation Defence Defended ~ News Talk ZB
[UPDATE] Bloggers against removing the provocation defence
Provocation and the ‘homosexual advance’ defence, Provocation 2, Provocation 3 ~ Stephen Franks
In Defence of the Partial Defence of Provocation ~ M & M
The Provocation Defence needs to remain ~ The Beretta Blog
Mixed Emotions are the Required Response ~ Contra Celsum
Provocation ~ HalfDone
Manslaughter and Every-onbe uses the defense of provocation ~ ZenTiger
Manipulation of the public has been honed to a fine art.
Case in point - the desire of some to remove the defence of provocation because it has been used to justify killing homosexuals who proposition the wrong guy. But until the Weatherston defence, there wasn't enough public outrage to justify the law change.
However, the daily updates of the apparently completely sane Weatherston trying to make out that Sophie Elliot made him torture and mutilate her to death has sent most of New Zealand over the edge. Rather than asking why on earth the Judge involved allowed such a defence when it was patently ridiculous, she allowed Weatherston to make a mockery of her court for five days.
Thus giving those who really loathe the idea that some men might kill another man who is coming on to them a reason, finally, to remove the defence of provocation. Nevermind the fact that if Sophie's mother had flipped out and murdered Weatherston in cold blood after finding Weatherston over her daughter's mutilated body, that provocation be a suitable defence. How many people would kill the murderer of their own child if faced with such a horrible scenario? And should they be deprived of a defence just because of a Government knee-jerk reaction?
Related Link: Provocation Defence Defended ~ News Talk ZB
[UPDATE] Bloggers against removing the provocation defence
Provocation and the ‘homosexual advance’ defence, Provocation 2, Provocation 3 ~ Stephen Franks
In Defence of the Partial Defence of Provocation ~ M & M
The Provocation Defence needs to remain ~ The Beretta Blog
Mixed Emotions are the Required Response ~ Contra Celsum
Provocation ~ HalfDone
Manslaughter and Every-onbe uses the defense of provocation ~ ZenTiger