Allegations of Abuse in NZ
	peterellis Home / abuse allegations / Tea Ropati / Page 2 - 1st week of the trial	Tea Ropati - League Star accused of rape Not Guilty ”a case that should never have gone to trial” - Lawyer
	Three News January 21 2008; 11:11 Tea Ropati pleads not guilty to rape NZPA Tea Ropati Former Kiwi rugby league player Tea Ropati today pleaded not guilty to rape at the start of his trial in Auckland. Ropati, who faces five other sex offences relating to the same complainant, had interim name suppression until it lapsed when the jury trial opened in the Auckland District Court. The offences are alleged to have occurred on or about June 15, 2006. The rape is alleged to have happened in the Victoria Park car park in the central city, the other offences at The Whiskey Bar in nearby Ponsonby. The trial has been set down for eight days, with the prosecution expected to call 35 witnesses. Ropati was supported in court by two of his brothers, who are also prominent in rugby league circles.