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The Press
January 20, 2004
Woman admits making false rape statement
A woman who made a 13-page written statement to
police claiming she had been raped has admitted the statement was made up.
In Christchurch District Court yesterday, Natasha Statesman-West admitted a
charge of making a false statement of rape.
Sergeant Paul Brocas told the court that on December 17 Statesman-West, 23,
went to the Christchurch Central police station with an allegation she had
been raped.
She signed a 13-page statement to that effect, in which she identified the
suspect and alleged circumstances of the offence.
But the suspect denied the incident ever happened, and police inquiries found
inconsistencies in the statement over her movements and actions.
When confronted, Statesman-West denied making up the allegation and
maintained her position at the time, Mr Brocas said.
Police had spent 36 hours investigating the matter, he said.
Judge David Holderness called for a probation report and remanded
Statesman-West on bail for sentence to early February.
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