Allegations of Abuse in NZ
	peterellis Home / abuse allegations / Tea Ropati / Page 3 - Not Guilty Verdict	Tea Ropati - League Star accused of rape Not Guilty ”a case that should never have gone to trial” - Lawyer
	One News January 30 2008; 10:01 Ropati's lawyers to deliver closing Defence lawyers for rape-accused Tea Ropati will deliver their closing argument on Wednesday morning at the Auckland District Court. The former rugby league international is facing six counts of sexual violation including rape after a night's drinking in June 2006. Ropati has denied the charges. He says they did not have sex and that any other activity was consensual. Crown Prosecutor Philip Hamlin says lack of consent is central to the case. He has told the court the complainant was so drunk on the night of the alleged offending, her ability to refuse sex was impaired. Hamlin says it is all very well for the defence to call character witnesses, but most of them were not present on the night in question.