Judge suggests book to address victim-blaming during sentencing
Thursday 8 October 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated 
Ryan De Souza has been sentenced to prison in the Blenheim District Court for serious family violence. During the proceedings, Judge Barbara Morris recommended the book Look What You Made Me Do to help the offender understand his victim-blaming behaviour.
Key facts
4 facts
- Ryan De Souza sentenced to 3 years and 5 months in prison
- Sentencing occurred in Blenheim District Court on Tuesday
- Lead charge was strangulation
- De Souza spent 394 days in remand custody
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Ryan De Souza has been sentenced to three years and five months in prison for strangulation following a series of violent offences last year. The Blenheim District Court heard that De Souza admitted to several charges, including assault, threatening to kill, and threatening grievous bodily harm. He had previously spent 394 days in custody on remand.
During sentencing, Judge Barbara Morris suggested De Souza read the Australian book, Look What You Made Me Do, to understand his victim-blaming behaviour. The judge noted that De Souza had told the victim the violence was her fault. She described strangulation as a life-threatening offence that signals to a victim that the offender is in control.
The offending involved choking, slapping, kicking, and striking the victim in the head. In one incident, De Souza threw a cellphone at the victim, which hit her and two children nearby. Prosecutor Jerome Lao stated that the presence of weapons, including a knife and a machete, and the presence of children made the offending much worse.
The Crown requested a six-year starting point for the sentence. Judge Morris set a starting point of five and a half years, noting that family violence committed in front of children is more serious.
Compiled from reports by NZ Herald and RNZ.