Grace Millane's family call for NZ Government to follow UK's lead and ban 'rough sex defence'

Millance's murder, while she was travelling in New Zealand in 2018, helped spur lawmakers in the UK to change the law.
Millance's murder, while she was travelling in New Zealand in 2018, helped spur lawmakers in the UK to change the law. Photo credit: Getty Images

Grace Millane's family is calling for the New Zealand Government to follow the UK and ban the controversial rough sex defence. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the family said the world should follow the UK's lead in order to protect women. 

"We are pleased that the [UK] Government is stopping 'rough sex' being used as a defence. It needs to be called what it really is and that's murder."

"Families won't have to sit and listen to only one side of the story whilst the victim is revictimized and doesn't get to tell their side.

"We now hope that the rest of the world takes notice, and follows our lead, especially New Zealand. Changes need to be made to protect women and make sure this doesn't happen again. The Domestic Abuse Bill is going to make a huge impact on so many lives."

The family also described the trauma they experienced during their daughter's killer's trial. 

"It was truly horrendous listening to the defence, it felt like Grace was on trial, yet not able to defend herself."

"Hopefully this means no other family has to go through this and men will stop using this defence as an excuse to kill women, knowing they can get a lesser sentence."

Millance's murder, while she was travelling in New Zealand in 2018, helped spur lawmakers in the UK to change the law. 

Her killer, who has name suppression, was found guilty in November 2019. The 28-year-old was sentenced to a minimum non-parole period of 17 years in February 2020. 

Millane was murdered in the Auckland Central CityLife hotel on either December 1 or 2, 2018, following a four-hour-long date with the killer.  

On December 8, her killer was charged with her murder. The young Brit's body was found a day later in a bush off Scenic Dr in the Waitakere Ranges.