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Allegations of Abuse
in NZ |
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Tea Ropati - League Star accused
of rape |
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Stuff Former Kiwis rugby league star Tea
Ropati will not give evidence in his own defence, a jury has been told. However, his wife would testify,
an Auckland District Court jury was told yesterday when Ropati's lawyer made
a brief opening statement. Ropati, 43, faces trial on six charges
of sexual violation – including rape – of a 36-year-old woman on June 15,
2006. The couple met at a bar in
Ponsonby. The Crown argued she was too drunk to consent to any sexual
activity but the defence said she was a willing partner to any sexual activity. The court heard yesterday the
woman had a blood alcohol level nearly four times the legal driving limit. Forensic scientist Alan Stowell
told prosecutor Phil Hamlin alcohol had an anaesthetic effect, and with a
level of up to 296mg, the drinker "is going to be affected to some
degree", The New Zealand Herald reported today. Dr Stowell told Ropati's lawyer,
Gary Gotleib, blackouts and memory loss did not necessarily mean the person
was an alcoholic and memory deficits could occur after a single binge. Australian forensic toxicologist
Olaf Drummer said the woman had consumed the equivalent of 14 to 16 standard
drinks during the night, the newspaper reported. The court also heard that Ropati
had told police he and the woman had became friendly during the night and
"were pretty much groping each other" in the bar. He said the pair had later gone in
his car to Victoria Park where prosecutors allege she was raped. However, he denied having sex with
the woman, and said in his statement to police he had taken her to a taxi and
given her $40 for the fare home. Mr Gotleib told the court Ropati
would call scientific and character witnesses but would not give evidence
himself because there was nothing he could add to what had already been
submitted.
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