TY - SER AU - McDonald, Elisabeth TI - A relationship in the nature of marriage SN - 0028-8373 PY - 1996/// KW - FVC KW - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE KW - JUSTICE KW - VICTIMS KW - WOMEN KW - INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE N1 - New Zealand Law Journal 1996 : 423-424 N2 - This article examines the court ruling of Isabella Ruka, charged for Domestic Purposes Benefit fraud in 1995, and explores the context of intimate partner violence and battered woman's syndrome in this situation. This author argues that the two essential elements in "a relationship in the nature of marriage", namely emotional commitment and financial interdependence, were not fulfilled in this case due to the severe and ongoing violence perpetrated by Ruka's partner. This article explores whether the existence of domestic violence justifies the dismissal of fraud charges in this instance ER -