Murdered in New Zealand

thanks Madgran.

grapefruitpip !

My children all went travelling too and just didn't tell me things they knew would make me anxious at the time. Yes, it was before mobiles with the older ones.
Although I hoped they were streetwise, you cannot go through life mistrusting everyone.

Poor girl, meeting a monster like that, her poor parents, it is heartrending.

My daughter went travelling to Asia and Australia with a friend when she was in her mid 20’s, so not so young. Friend ran out of money, DD carried on on her own round Oz. This was before mobiles and widespread internet use. She later told me about sleeping in hostels where rough looking blokes were in adjoining bunks, in remote places in the Outback.
Thank goodness I didn’t know all this at the time. I would never have dared to do stuff like that, would never have been allowed back in the day. I’m proud of my independent, resourceful daughter, but when you hear about what happened to poor girls like Grace Malone....my DD met up with an Aussie lad, but he was a good guy and she married him.

The guilty party has now been named.

My daughters also went travelling; one went to NZ after completing her degree and some years later she eventually emigrated there. She now lives just minutes from Scenic Drive, which is a very beautiful place leading to the Watakere Ranges.

I encouraged all of my children to travel; I wanted them to experience a range of cultures as the ‘foreigner’ so that they would have an understanding that we are all global citizens and that what unites people is greater than that which divides us.

I lived abroad when I was younger and I think the experience has impacted on me hugely, I’m sure I feel greater empathy for asylum seekers and refugees simply because I know how discomfited I felt as an immigrant.

I truly hope that youngsters won’t be put off travelling by this dreadful event - and that parents understand that this could have happened anywhere in the world, including in towns and cities in this country.

yes petra, I was. I can't cope with bickering today. It's sad for the family, all of it.

Bluebelle when I was a student.... I had some fun times.

Well he was still anonymous on the news this morning
She was silly to go back to his hotel room but haven’t we all done it in the heat of the moment I remember inviting (it turned out to be a one night stand but that’s not what I saw at the time) date back to my house for coffee +++ completely stupid but I bet many many people on here if they are honest have done the same

grapefruitpip
I've just seen your post i didn't mean so much the travelling
Are you referring to the sexual aspect of the case?

grapefruitpip
Didn't any of your children go travelling? Thousands have this adventure and thankfully the majority have a great time.
Unfortunately this lovely young girl met up with a killer ?

I’m afraid Call that sadly there are people ( including some GNers) who believe that girls and women should restrict their world to keep themselves safe. They never say that boys and men should do the same if they are not ale to behave properly around girls and women.

I didn't mean so much the traveling.

Sorry, spelling error
grapefruitpip

Lots of girls go travelling on their own, make friends as they go frapefruitpip.

Usually they are fine, have wonderful experiences but just occasionally will come up against a murderous bastard like this one with such devastating consequences.
Should girls stay at home, not venture out, not explore the world because of such people?

He's been named now

Simple grapefruitpip a 21 year old who has been to university, who has had previous relationships in her time no doubt several, who spends half her time on the internet, who wants to impress her friends etc. the list is endless. Yes the world is ugly, but an outcome like this is very rare.

I don't understand any of it, really I don't. I am sorry for the family but how does a 21 year old become involved in this at all?

Sorry, I am on a major downer today. The world seems ugly.

I understand the killer's name is being with held for his protection, can that really be true ?
Meanwhile the victim had her sexual history paraded in a public court - disgraceful.
I feel so sorry for her parents.

A student in Hull, I believe, went missing and her body was found several weeks later. This was earlier in the year. Footage had been shown with her obviously very much the worse for wear on her way home after a night out. A man has recently been charged with her murder.
I felt for her poor family, as being drunk will be the perception that people have of her, no different to scores of other young people. She must have been at the wrong place at the wrong time. So sad.

A man is mugged in the street and has his wallet stolen.
He quite rightly reports this theft to the Police, who interview him.
The Victim explains that he was walking home alone in the early hours when he was approached by a man who threatened him with a knife, forcing him to had over his wallet.

Police Officer - Do you often walk around alone in the dark at night ?
Victim - Not very often, I had been at a work drinks party and wanted to clear my head.
PO - So you were Drunk ?
V - I wouldn't say drunk but I had had a few glasses of wine.
PO - Do you always dress in expensive suits ?
V - My image is important to me and I'm expected to dress to impress at work.
PO - Did your assailant attack you with the knife ?
V - No he just waved it about.
PO - Did you try to fight him off ?
V- No I was frightened that he would stab me ?
PO - Did you try to run away ?
V - No, I didn't want to provoke him.
PO - Is that a Rolex you're wearing ?
V - Yes but I fail to see the importance of that.
PO - Its important that you were walking alone at night, under the influence, wearing an expensive suit and watch, advertising the fact that you are a wealthy man, and did nothing to protect yourself. Have you been robbed before ?
Do you enjoy being mugged ? Some people might say you were asking for it.

We did this sketch with a girls drama group 25 years ago - nothings bloody changed

The horrific revealing of the poor girl's sexual preferences will stick with many longer than the memories of her golden personality. I only hope her loving parents can find the strength to get beyond this.

I disagree that Grace was foolish in the extreme to go on a date and return to his flat Jabberwok. It happens a lot of the time without incident. By calling her foolish you are in some way saying she was to blame. Alone in a foreign country she just craved some company, attention, excitement, .... call it what you will. Quite normal.

Maybe it was a unrelated offence Callistemon but serious enough not to disclose. Sentencing for Grace’s murder isn’t until February next year - time for him to be tried again in the interim? I think that’s why his face is pixilated in the press. Must be for some reason?

Oh my goodness, that poor girl! But, dating and going back to the flat of a stranger?! Foolish in the extreme!

It would appear that the law is an ass there as well as in the UK.

Women are still shamed and blamed and the proliferation of pornography has a lot to answer for. Things seem to worse, not better.