A charity set up by Grace Milane's family has welcomed the news the rough sex defence will be outlawed in the UK.
According to the BBC, British justice minister Alex Chalk has said it was "unconscionable" that the rough sex gone wrong defence could be used in courts to excuse the death of an individual "simply because she consented".
Chalk said that within the country's Domestic Abuse Bill, it would be made "crystal clear" that such a defence was not acceptable. It's meant to be passed sometime this year.
Over the last year there has been a push to see the defence banned in the United Kingdom, with several politicians and advocacy groups consistently calling on the government to make the change.
High-profile Labour MP Jess Phillips tweeted on Wednesday night her thanks to groups like We Can't Consent to This, which have fought to end the defence. They want someone who is accused of killing another during sex to be charged with murder.
"You both deserve a massive cheer and a socially distanced hug of triumph. Thanks always for all of your work," Phillps said.
We Can't Consent to This said it was a "big step forward". It has found 60 examples since 1972 in the United Kingdom where women have been "killed during so-called sex games gone wrong". Of these, 45 percent ended in a "lesser charge of manslaughter, a lighter sentence or the death not being investigated as a crime".
The government's full approach to the issue will be set out the "report stage" of the Bill's progression, according to the BBC.
The defence gained prominence in New Zealand last year during the Millane murder trial. A 28-year-old, who cannot be named, was found guilty of murdering the British backpacker in November. Earlier this year, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years. During his trial, the man relied on the defence that Millane's death had been an accident during a form of consensual rough sex.
Love Grace x, a group set up by Millane's family which helps provide toiletries and handbags to victims of domestic abuse, posted on its Facebook page following the news.
"Fantastic news to wake up to this morning!" it said with a heart emoji.
The man found guilty of her murder is appealing his conviction and sentence.
