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Otago Daily Times
November 8, 2003
Woman who falsified rape claim convicted
Court Reporter
A 32-year-old American woman pleaded guilty to a
charge of making a false rape complaint when she appeared in the Dunedin
District Court yesterday.
The woman originally told police she was abducted by a man at the Harbour Basin and later raped.
While not granting her a discharge without conviction, Judge Stephen
O'Driscoll allowed counsel John Westgate's application for suppression of her
name.
Prosecutor Sergeant Tom Scouller said the woman, who was studying in New Zealand
for a few months, went to an inner city bar on October 17. There she met a
man and, somewhat affected by alcohol, agreed to go with him in his car to
another bar. However, they decided to drive to the outskirts of the city
instead and consensual sex took place.
According to the woman, the man was disrespectful and less than considerate.
When he dropped her back in the city, she felt upset, ashamed and
disappointed in herself.
Later that night, she went to the Dunedin Central Police Station and reported
she had been abducted and raped. She claimed that while she was sightseeing
at the Harbour Basin, a man who said he had a gun
forced her into a vehicle. She was blindfolded, then driven to an unknown
location where she was sexually violated, she claimed.
Concerned for her welfare, and because of her apparent distress, police put
her up in a motel for the night.
Her claim resulted in a large response from both police and the media. A gift
arrived at the police station for her.
On October 22, the woman finally admitted her claim was fiction. By then, 11
police had put about 50 hours work into the investigation.
The woman said she had no idea the story would generate such a large
response. She apologised for lying to the officers and wasting police time.
She also stated something inappropriate did happen in the vehicle. The
difficulty was she then embellished what occurred, Judge O'Driscoll was told.
Asking for a discharge without conviction, Mr Westgate said the woman was
remorseful, had apologised and had no previous convictions. He also submitted
references. And he said the woman would pay the $770.34 reparation sought by
police and make a $500 donation to Victim Support.
Judge O'Driscoll said the large response to the woman's claim showed how
seriously police took such allegations.
Their time and effort spent "on wild goose chases looking for
non-existent offenders" could otherwise have been used to deal with
genuine matters.
Investigating false claims also stretched resources.
There was a need to deter people from making such claims. The defendant would
not be granted a discharge without conviction and it was appropriate she pay
reparation, the judge said.
The woman, allowed final name suppression on medical grounds, was convicted
and ordered to pay reparation in full.
On her indication from the dock she would donate $500 to Victim Support, she
was not fined. But she is to make the donation by Monday afternoon.
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