Phillip Layton Edwards The man who killed Auckland gay interior decorator David McNee will be released from prison next month with a psychologist assessing him as "posing a high risk of violent offending." In 2004 Philip Layton Edwards, now 31, was sentenced to nine years for the manslaughter of McNee. Using the now-disallowed "gay panic defense" Edwards evaded a murder charge by claiming that McNee provoked his own death by breaking an apparent agreement between the pair that there be no physical agreement during a sexual liaison. David McNee At the time he killed McNee Edwards was just eleven days out of prison, during which time he had already been arrested twice, and he had previously amassed 56 previous convictions and several prison terms. Conditions attached to Edwards' April release include that he undertake drug, alcohol and psychological asessments and if necessary attend programmes addressing these issues. He must live at an approved address and take any medications prescribed by his GP in association with a mental health service. The parole board says it feels "any risk can be appropriately managed." You can discuss this New Zealand gay community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 7th March 2012 - 1:33pm