1 Oct 2013

No jail for lawyer who smuggled goods to rapist

12:09 pm on 1 October 2013

De-registered lawyer Davina Murray has escaped a prison sentence for smuggling contraband to a convicted murderer and rapist in jail.

Murray was found guilty in August of sneaking an i-phone and cigarettes to Liam Reid in Mt Eden prison in 2011.

Judge Russell Collins turned down an application for a discharge without conviction at the Auckland District Court on Tuesday.

The maximum sentence for the offence is three months in prison, but Judge Collins sentenced her to 50 hours of community work.

He said her previous good character was seriously undermined by the fact she falsely accused two prison guards of planting the items in Reid's cell.

Murray did not acknowledge her responsibility or show any remorse until the 11th hour.

Last month, the Law Society refused to renew Murray's practising certificate and removed her from its list of registered lawyers, meaning she can no longer act as a lawyer.