Sister of killer plans domestic abuse protest

The sister of convicted killer Christine King is planning a protest outside the High Court in Hamilton on the day she is sentenced.

King was found guilty on November 16 of manslaughter for killing her husband, Wayne Roycroft, in 1988 and burying his body in her garden.

She will be sentenced on December 16.

King argued that she had suffered years of mental and physical abuse at her husband's hands. Her sister, Elly Mitchell, said King wanted a protest to speak for all victims of domestic violence.

"I think there's a lot of women out there who have been close to breaking point and they need to know that there is support out there and to stop being silent."

On her sister's behalf, Ms Mitchell planned to raise awareness that men, women and children in abusive relationships did not have to continue suffering.

Ms Mitchell has written to the YWCA and Women's Refuge, asking them to join the protest.

"We need to talk about abuse and let people know how bad it really is out in our society," she said.

Victims such as King often felt locked into bad situations because of their financial situation, and intimidation by their partners made them too terrified to leave.

"You don't have to suffer. Don't go back, get out, stay away," she said.

Ms Mitchell said she was not condoning what her sister had done.

"There's no justice in any of this situation for anybody."

She said King would bring good to people she met inside prison who had also suffered physical and mental abuse.

"She's shattered but coping in there. She hasn't got a choice really, has she?"

The protest will start at 9.45am on December 16.

- nzpa