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Allegations
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Waikato Times A Waikato woman's gathering of false evidence against her abusive former partner led to the man's conviction for rape being quashed. But police say the woman's allegations were legitimate and will not charge her with making a false complaint. The 61-year-old invalid beneficiary appeared in the Hamilton District Court for sentencing on Friday after earlier admitting to attempting to pervert the course of justice. Judge Denise Clark sentenced her to 50 hours' community work. The court heard that the woman and her ex-partner had a turbulent de-facto relationship for several years. A protection order taken out against the man was breached three times. After the relationship ended, the woman alleged the man had assaulted and sexually violated her. Subsequently, in the Rotorua District Court, he was found guilty of rape. Crown prosecutor Sheila Cameron said the woman gathered false evidence and had tried to influence two women to lie at her ex-partner's trial. But the false information never formed any part of the trial evidence. The Court of Appeal said the woman's actions struck at the core of the Crown case. It quashed the man's convictions and he was released after serving 10 months in prison. Crown prosecutors declined to pursue a retrial. Ms Cameron said police re-investigated and were satisfied the woman had not made any false complaints. There was an evidential basis for charges against the man. |
