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Allegations of Abuse
in NZ |
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Tea Ropati - League Star accused
of rape |
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Sunday Star Times Tea Ropati's family are
considering private prosecutions against the woman who accused the former
rugby league star of rape and her friends who gave evidence against him at
trial. During Ropati's week-long sex
trial at the Auckland District Court, the woman and her friends admitted
snorting cocaine on the night she claimed she was raped. But Ropati's brother, barrister
John Ropati, told the Sunday Star-Times yesterday police had ignored the
women's class A drug use. If police were going to turn a blind eye, Ropati's
family would consider prosecuting them privately, he said. The trial ended on Thursday with a
jury acquitting Ropati, 42, of three counts of sexual violation, including
one of rape, and three counts of attempted sexual violation. The complainant, who has permanent
name suppression, alleged Ropati sexually violated her after they met at a
Ponsonby bar on June 15, 2006. She was 36 at the time. Ropati's lawyer Gary Gotlieb
argued the sexual activity between the two was consensual, although both were
drunk. John Ropati said the prosecution
went ahead only because of his brother's high profile as a Kiwi rugby league
player. "He had a high profile, he
has a well-known sporting family. It's what the media love. So this chick
cried rape and [the police] saw an opportunity. If it was Hohepa from Otara
there would not have been this huge fanfare. "Obviously, we have issues
with the women and their drug use. If they want to play the system, as
individuals we may have to consider private prosecutions. "The police have not offered
any explanation as to why they are not doing anything about it. It is a class
A drug. It's outrageous. They are the oldest teenagers in town - grow up for
goodness sake." He said Ropati and his wife
Vanessa were trying to put the allegations behind them and get on with their
lives. "It's been one of those
things that been going on forever. The result was favourable, thank goodness.
He is rebuilding both his personal life and his professional one. "They say what does not kill
you makes you stronger I think that applies to everyone." Meanwhile, the employer of
Ropati's other brother, Peter, would not comment on whether the league
commentator would be disciplined for an outburst in court when the verdicts
of not guilty were read. The Sky Sport broadcaster was
ordered out of court on Thursday after he called out that the case was
absolute rubbish and "right from the start, it should never have
been". |
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