Killer married disgraced lawyer on his daughter's birthday

Rapist and murderer Liam James Reid married disgraced lawyer and convicted smuggler Davina Murray on his daughter's 22nd birthday.

And his daughter's mother is fuming at her ex, saying she is disgusted at his "sick" actions.

The Herald revealed last night that Reid was set to marry Murray in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo today.

Murray lost her legal career after she was convicted of smuggling an iPhone, cigarettes and a lighter to her client Reid in 2011 while he was in Mt Eden prison.

Reid was serving a 23-year sentence for raping and killing deaf woman Emma Agnew in Christchurch in 2007, as well as the rape, attempted murder and robbery of a 21-year-old student in Dunedin nine days later.

The ceremony, in front of one guest, took place at 10am.

It was catered, photos were taken and the legal paperwork was signed to seal the convict couple as newlyweds.

"A small number of photos were taken, which is standard process," said a Corrections spokeswoman.

"These photos are with the deputy prison director and are not for release at this time.

"The Department has strict protocols in place for the release of images of prisoners, and the release to any party would have to be fully considered."

Reid's ex-partner contacted the Herald after news of the wedding broke, upset and angry.

She spoke on the condition of anonymity - wanting to protect her daughter's privacy - and said the wedding was "an absolute joke".

"I am the mother of his daughter and am disgusted and angry that this is allowed to happen," she said.

"Let alone that the date they have chosen to be married on is my daughter's birthday."

The woman said Reid marrying on his daughter's birthday was "sick" and she considered it a personal attack.

"Not only did she have to come to terms with what he had done at a very young age and eventually grew up knowing that he was a rapist and murderer - every birthday she has from now on, they will be celebrating their wedding anniversary," she said.

"She struggled emotionally and now for them to do this to her is cruel and heartless.

"it just makes me feel sick and sad for my daughter, that he can hurt and affect her life like this again."

The woman said she was "completely outraged" that Reid's wedding had been allowed.

"Without any regard to victims' families and other members involved," she said.

"It's just disgraceful - if I had of known that this was taking place on this particular date I would have done everything in my power as a mother to try and stop it.

"But we weren't even given a chance."

She said it was "a very big shock" to hear that her ex was getting married.

A source told the Herald yesterday that Reid's best man was supposed to be Malcolm Chaston who was jailed for life in 2011 with a minimum non-parole period of 20 years for the murder of Christchurch woman Vanessa Pickering.

The 27-year-old mother was killed and dumped at Godley Head on Christchurch's Port Hills in early 2010.

However a second source said that after news of the wedding broke Chaston reportedly backed out of his duties.

The source said another inmate from the segregation unit was invited - David Obiaga, who was jailed in 2015 for his part in an international drug cartel behind the importation of $2.5 million of methamphetamine.

But en-route to the ceremony Obiaga reportedly became claustrophobic in the back of a prison van and was returned to his unit.

Corrections Minister Louise Upston said yesterday she was not consulted about the wedding, nor was she aware of it until the Herald revealed details last night.

"I find that marriage particularly disgraceful and I think most New Zealanders will," she said this morning.

"Unfortunately it's not against the law to get married in this country but I'm thinking of Emma Agnew's family because they won't get to see her get married."

Prisoners can apply to get married but it is up to individual prison directors to approve the applications.