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Allegations of Sexual
Abuse in NZ |
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The woman at the centre of last
week's knifepoint abduction and rape in Timaru said yesterday that the
offenders had shattered her dreams. The woman, who cannot be named for
legal reasons, spoke out because she wants the offenders and their supporters
to know what they have done to her and her children. She came to Timaru only a few
months ago to start a new life, but said her hopes were destroyed last Monday
when two men abducted her at knifepoint outside the Richard Pearse Tavern
about 11pm -- a night when friends had shouted her out to give her a break
from the kids and thank her for her support. "We had a few beers and it
was a good night until then. I went outside for a smoke and they (the
rapists) drove up and ask for a lighter. I said `sure'. "Next thing there was a knife
in my back and I'm being told to get in the car. That was the polite version,
they were very foul what they said. "I had to lie face down on the
back seat. I was told to get in or else I'd get a knife in the back. All I
could see in front of me were my kids' faces." The next thing she knew she was at
Caroline Bay where she was raped. She said while the passenger in
the vehicle raped her, the driver of the car sat and watched. "I told them don't hurt me, I
have young kids. They told me they didn't give a f... about my kids; just do
what I was told or else. "I've had a pretty tough
background. I keep thinking I should have fought, kicked and punched and
screamed, but I was worried they would kill me and my kids wouldn't have a
mum." She felt helpless at the hands of
the two men whom she said were drunk and reeked of rum. "I keep thinking why me? What
have I done that they need to hurt me? I can't sleep nights. It just keeps
going round in my mind. "I'm on sleeping pills but
they don't do any good. I keep wondering if they are still out there. Do they
know where I live? "The kids and I like Timaru.
I have six children altogether but they don't all live with me. One is with
nana and I'm sorting out custody of the others through the courts now. "I came to Timaru first with
my two youngest so we could find a nice house and get set up and then we
could all be together. "I can't stay here now. We
will stay in Timaru but I have to find a new house." The woman said that should her
attackers be caught, she would still always fear what would happen on their
release. "I want to know they have
been caught. That would be good, but emotionally I don't think I will ever
get over it." She said her kids saw her crying
and came and cried with her. They did not know what happened and were too
young to understand. Before the attack, she took her
children to the park or beach most weekends but now she never went anywhere
without other people. "I hate the effect it has had
on us all. Everything has changed." -- NZPA |
