Death threats for campaigning lawyer

Davina Murray. Photo / APN

A controversial lawyer has contacted police after receiving chilling death and rape threats over her fight to clear the name of a convicted murderer and rapist.

Davina Murray is crusading on behalf of Liam Reid, who is serving a 23-year sentence for brutally raping and slaying deaf woman Emma Agnew in Christchurch in 2007, and the rape, attempted murder and robbery of a 21-year-old student in Dunedin nine days later.

Murray, who is facing two charges of allegedly smuggling Reid an iPhone, cigarettes and a lighter at Mt Eden prison last October, visited Reid 80 times over nine months last year.

She claims publicity surrounding her frequent dealings with Reid has put her safety at risk. She has received several "serious" threats by email, which she reported to the Police National Cyber Crime Centre this week.

One message was sent to the Auckland-based barrister last Monday, the day after she appeared on TV3's 60 Minutes.

It read: "I'll give you some nooky for nothing if that's what you want, and it won't even cost you a few fags and a mobile. If your fantasy is to experience what he does to women, I could arrange that as well if that's what you get off on ..."

Murray said she first received abuse from the same person in April, the day after she lost a bid for her continued name suppression at Auckland's High Court over the smuggling allegations.

The first email, dated April 17, said: "You're no better than he is. When you are sentenced you should get your wish and be chucked in the cell with the creep and you can find out first hand what he did to his victim."

"I had told the High Court that releasing my name and that of Liam Reid could compromise my personal safety, but that was ignored," she told the Herald on Sunday.

"Since then I have been used to people shouting things like 'you smuggler' at me when I am at work.

"The most worrying thing is I have no idea who sent these sick emails. It could be someone in my office or a complete stranger."