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The Press
Photo: John Kirk-Anderson GUILTY: Peter Stewart enters the
High Court today. He was sentenced after being convicted of rape, sodomy and
indecent assault. Prominent Canterbury businessman
Peter Stewart has been sentenced to three and a half years jail
after being found guilty of historic sex charges. The high-profile yacht skipper and
farmer was found guilty by a jury on one charge of sodomy, one of rape, three
of indecent assault and two of inducing an indecent act and was sentenced in
the High Court this morning. He was jailed for three and a half
years on the rape and sodomy charges and for two years concurrently on the
indecency charges. Stewart is the son of the late Sir
Robertson Stewart and husband of New Zealand Fashion Week owner Pieter
Stewart. Defence counsel Jonathan Eaton
sought a reduced sentence for Stewart's blameless life since, and the public
vilification that had taken place since his conviction on five charges of
indecency, one of rape, and one of sodomy. Outside the Court House, Mr Eaton
told reporters Stewart was grateful for the continued support of family and
friends "which continues today". He said an appeal would
immediately be filed and he would therefore make no further comment. The offences occurred 30 to 40
years ago when the female victim was aged between about nine and 16. Stewart
was in his twenties. A statement from the family of the
victim, a woman now in her 40s, said that the conviction of Stewart brought
some closure for her and those close to her. "Over the past three years
this horrible situation has devastated, disintegrated and destroyed families
and extended families. "It has stretched or ruined
long-term friendships. This is minor to the fact that the victim has lived
with her own hell for most of her life," the statement said. |
