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The Southland Times
March 30, 2002
False rape inquiry cost about $100,000
Police spent hundreds of hours investigating a rape complaint later found to
be false, the Invercargill District Court heard on Thursday.The inquiry cost
at least $100,000.
Judge David Holderness granted final name suppression to the woman convicted
last month of making a false complaint of rape on June 19 last year. This was
an unusual step, taken only because of the woman's history of post traumatic
stress disorder, for which she was still receiving treatment, and that she
had since left Invercargill. "It really is high time that you moved on
from this particular period of your life," he told her.
Police had taken the woman's complaint seriously and investigated it
"with commendable thoroughness." Police prosecutor Sergeant Alan
Christie summarized the investigation.
"The police man-hours, involving what I understand was up to a dozen
police staff at times, would go into the hundreds," he said.
"Environmental and Scientific Research scientists and fingerprinting
experts had also been involved, adding to the cost of the case.
"I can say with some confidence, sir, that that figure would
conservatively be around the $100,000 mark, if not greater." Defence
lawyer Phil McDonald said he agreed with the probation officer's
recommendation that a conviction and discharge was appropriate, although
supervision might be an alternative.Judge Holderness said the court always
regarded false rape complaints seriously as they placed the personal lives
and reputations of those accused of the crime in jeopardy.Supervision was not
necessary; a conviction and discharge was appropriate, he said.
"However, I do believe that the court ought to refer in some small way
to the high financial outlay that was involved in the course of the police
inquiry." The woman was ordered to pay $1500 towards the cost of
prosecution.
In closing, Judge Holderness noted the woman's trial had lasted four and a
half days.
"You should be grateful for the very careful, thorough way you have been
represented in this case by Mr McDonald," he told her.
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