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Allegations of Abuse
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A married man who had a short
extramarital affair in the 1980s said when he heard the same woman had later
accused a former policeman of raping her he felt sorry for what the accused
"was up against". Les Gardener, 52, a builder, said
he had sex in the back of a car after a cowshed party with the woman, now 63,
in a small Northland community 19 years ago. He said he woke up the next day
ashamed of his behaviour and visited the woman to tell her to keep the
interlude a secret. "I went out to her place to
see her and to tell her to bury this," he said. "She was in the shower and
walked straight out with nothing on and I said 'no, no' to the
complainant." "She said to me 'you've been
a naughty little boy and I want another piece of you'." Earlier in the trial defence told
the jury the woman used the phrase "naughty little policeman" to the
accused when he said they were having consensual sex in the police station. The complainant denied ever using
either phrase. Mr Gardener said nothing happened
between them that next morning, but said the woman later told his wife about
the affair when the two women were having a coffee. Mr Gardener said he felt
"pretty mad" about that. Later in 1988, Mr Gardener said he
heard the "gossip" around town about the woman's claims she had
been raped by an off-duty policeman at the local station. The former policeman is now on
trial facing eight historic charges, including four of sexual violation. Mr Gardener said he called the
police to tell them of his encounter with the complainant and he was
"prepared to stand up in court" to defend the officer, whose family
he knew. "I was bitter when I heard
about what she'd done to (the accused)," Mr Gardener said. In cross examination Crown
prosecutor Glen Marshall asked Mr Gardener why his evidence in court
yesterday differed to his police statement in August 1988. In his original statement read by
Mr Marshall, Mr Gardener said the woman stormed into his house after the
affair and told his wife about it. "That would put the `naughty
little boy' to rest wouldn't it?" Mr Marshall asked. Mr Gardener said the events were
over 19 years ago and some details were difficult to remember, but his memory
was "pretty clear". The defence called five witnesses
yesterday, but the accused would not be giving evidence. Lawyers will close their cases
today and Judge Michael Lance will sum up the six-day trial. The jury is expected to retire to
decide its verdict by early afternoon. |
