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'Gay Panic Defence' film in Doco Festival

Thu 5 Feb 2009 In: New Zealand Daily News View at NDHA

A harrowing new film about New Zealand's 'Homosexual Panic Defence' will be shown in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in coming months as part of the DocNZ Film Festival. Murder: John Givins is attacked in An Ordinary Person An Ordinary Person explores several real cases of Kiwi men defending themselves in murder trials by alleging their victims made a gay advance on them - resulting in shorter jail sentences. The film presents interviews with lawyers, legal academics and a journalist are inter-cut with a shocking dramatisation, showing former Queer Nation producer John Givins as a victim of an attack by a young man he picks up in his car one night. The 'Homosexual Panic Defence' - part of the still legal 'partial defence of provocation' is expected to be reviewed by the Government's new - and openly gay - Attorney General Christopher Finlayson, who told GayNZ.com in 2007 that the section of law was 'ripe for reform' as part of a comprehensive examination of the Crime Act. The DocoNZ Film Festival, beginning in Auckland this month, also features the Australasian premiere of A Jihad for Love. Filmed in twelve countries and nine languages, the documentary explores the clash between religion and homosexuality in the Muslim world.    

Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff

First published: Thursday, 5th February 2009 - 2:31pm

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