The homosexual panic defence must go, says Dr Alison Laurie in the wake of the David McNee verdict. Speaking in the NZ Herald, Dr Laurie suggests that those who believe McNee is somehow responsible for his own death – including gays and lesbians who have expressed this opinion – are homophobes and hypocrites. "Mr McNee may have acted foolishly by picking up a rent-boy off the street rather than from an agency or newspaper advertisement - but no one deserves to die for foolishness," she says. Dr Laurie also calls into question the veracity of killer Edwards testimony. "Should we, as did this jury, believe Edwards' version of what happened? Isn't it possible that Edwards, an experienced hustler who had lived for eight months in 2001 with a transsexual partner, demanded more money from Mr McNee after whatever they consensually did?" she asks. "How can such an attack be justified as provoked, except by jury members who believe that homosexual men are second-class citizens who deserve to die for their desires? Why was Mr McNee out there on the street, buying sexual services? Did anybody really answer this question during the trial?"
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 18th August 2004 - 12:00pm