annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

Topic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Financial exploitation, Women, Victims/survivors,JusticeAbstract: This article examines the court ruling of Isabella Ruka, charged for DomesticPurposes Benefit fraud in 1995, and explores the context of intimate partner violence andbattered woman’s syndrome in this situation. This author argues that the two essentialelements in "a relationship in the nature of marriage", namely emotional commitment andfinancial interdependence, were not fulfilled in this case due to the severe and ongoingviolence perpetrated by Ruka’s partner. This article explores whether the existence ofdomestic violence justifies the dismissal of fraud charges in this instance.McDonald, E. (1997, December). Battered woman syndrome. New Zealand Law Journal, 436-438.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12958.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Women, Justice, Mental healthAbstract: This article examines battered woman syndrome (BWS) and its relevance as adefence in legal cases. The author describes BWS as a subtype of post traumatic stressdisorder, and how this can lead to ‘learned helplessness’. Examples of cases where BWS hasbeen used as evidence in a woman’s defence are provided. The author argues that it may bepertinent for jurors and judges to have knowledge of BWS in order to understand why somewomen fail to leave violent relationships. However, often the difficulty lies in providingevidence of this contextual information imperative to understanding the specificities of eachcase.McDonald, E. (1997). Defending abused women: Beginning a critique of New Zealand criminal law.Victoria University of Wellington Law Review, 27(4), 673-696.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12989.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Homicide, Women,Justice, LegislationAbstract: This article addresses the context of abuse in which women offend, particularly incases where women kill their abusive partners. Legal defences that apply to male offendingpertain to women also, and the author examines whether provocation, self-defence,automatism or insanity are adequate defences for women who offend as a result of violence.The article suggests that men and women have differing motivations for criminal offending,so the justice system must take account of gender, and consider the pervasive physical andpsychological effects of abuse. Legal cases are used as examples to illustrate the applicationof different types of defence, and to highlight the lack of understanding in the court system ofthe dynamics of abuse in instances of homicide.McDonald, E. (1997, November). Women offenders and compulsion. New Zealand Law Journal, 402-404.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13114.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Child abuse and neglect, Child homicide, Women,Perpetrators/offenders, Justice, LegislationAbstract: This article explores situations where women have not protected their childrenfrom abuse. Two case studies are used to illustrate this issue, including those of Tania Witikaand Lavinia Manukau. The male partners of these two women were convicted of the murder115