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Allegations of Abuse
in NZ |
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Tea Ropati - League Star accused
of rape |
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Radio NZ The police are disagreeing with
suggestions a rape case against a former rugby league player was weak. Tea Ropati, 42, was cleared of six
counts of sexual violation at the Auckland District Court on Thursday afternoon. The former New Zealand
international was accused of raping a woman he met in a bar in the Auckland
suburb of Ponsonby in June 2006. Mr Ropati denied all charges
during the trial at the Auckand District Court this week. The jury took 10
hours to reach its verdict. His lawyer, Gary Gotleib, says the
case against his client was weak and suggests the matter was only pursued
because of Mr Ropati's career as a league player. However, Detective Sergeant Scott
Beard, the officer in charge of the case, says there was sufficient evidence
to bring the case to court. The 36-year-old complainant
claimed she was raped by Mr Ropati. She told the court she did not remember
much of what happened on the night she met him in the bar, because she was
drunk and high on cocaine. Mr Ropati said he engaged only in
consensual sexual activity with the woman, and they never had intercourse. "On-going issues" Vocal supporters of Mr Ropati were
ordered out of the court when the verdicts were read out on Thursday. They yelled
abuse directed at police, saying the case was a waste of money and should not
have gone to trial. Outside court, Mr Ropati said he
was relieved the trial was over. He thanked his family and friends, saying he
would not have been able to cope without their support. In a statement issued by his
lawyer, Mr Ropati said he has ongoing issues with alcohol and would be back
in court on Friday to face an unrelated charge of driving under the influence
on New Year's Day. |
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