Sexual violence trials: Expert panels proposed to replace juries

PremiumAnna LeaskSenior Journalist - Crime and Justice·NZ Herald·29 Aug, 2026 05:00 PM12 mins to read‌NZ Herald Morning Headlines | Hundreds dead in Nepal flash floods and police investigate after Wattle Downs shooting | Friday, August 28, 2026. Video / NZ HeraldJuries of randomly selected New Zealanders could be replaced by panels of sexual violence experts under a radical proposal to overhaul the way rape trials are decided. One victim says the proposal has obvious appeal, while a legal expert agrees the current system needs reform but questions whether replacing juries