Former lawyer, prisoner to wed

AUCKLAND: A disgraced former lawyer is set to marry an ‘‘evil and dangerous predator’’ inside prison today.

Davina Murray lost her legal career after smuggling an iPhone, cigarettes and a lighter to her client Liam Reid in 2011 while he was in Mount Eden prison.

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

A prison source said the couple would be married in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo today at 10am.

Tom Sherlock, deputy prison director, confirmed a wedding was scheduled to take place.

He said a prisoner was allowed to marry their partner with the permission of the prison director, who would consider whether the ceremony posed a threat to the safety, security or good order of the prison.

‘‘Weddings or civil union ceremonies are not restricted in prisons and each application is considered on a casebycase basis.’’

Permission for the marriage was granted despite Murray being convicted of smuggling contraband to her client.

Reid was described as an ‘‘evil and dangerous predator’’ by Justice Lester Chisholm, who imposed preventive detention at sentencing — a measure reserved for the worst criminals.

Murray is convinced of Reid’s innocence and has acted on his behalf in appeals.