Kiwi euthanasia champion Sean Davison charged with South African quadriplegic's murder

Sean Davison outside the High Court in Dunedin in 2011 before being sentenced for the assisted suicide of his mother Patricia. Photo / File

A New Zealand citizen, with a previous conviction for assisted suicide in Dunedin, has appeared in a South African court on a murder charge.

Sean Davison is facing the charges in relation to the death of Anrich Burger who became a quadriplegic after a vehicle accident in 2005 - he was not terminally ill.

Davison pleaded not guilty and was released on bail of NZ$2050 and is due to reappear in court again on November 16.

He admitted that in 2014 he helped Burger, a close friend of his, take the lethal drugs in November of the previous year, News24 reports.

In 2011 Davison was sentenced to five months' house arrest in Dunedin after pleading guilty to counselling and procuring his mother's suicide.

Davison is the president of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, which supports euthanasia and assisted suicide for adults with incurable illnesses. The New Zealand End of Life Choice Society (formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society) is a member.

At a speech at the federation's conference in 2014, the 57-year-old said "not all quadriplegics want to die, but those who do want to, should have the option".

The executive officer of Euthanasia-Free NZ, Renée Joubert, said Davison's actions suggested the federation wants any adult to be eligible.

"Mr Davison's words and actions demonstrate that 'assisted dying' advocates don't really want a narrow law limited to terminal illness, but one that would eventually allow virtually any competent adult to be eligible, including people with disabilities.

"Disabled people would be included under both clauses of David Seymour's Bill.

"Terminal illness involves disability. So do many other long-standing physical and mental conditions."