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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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The trial of four men
charged with the pack rape of a young woman in Mt Maunganui 16 years ago has
opened in Wellington with the crown saying the attack was planned and the
defence team saying the sex was consensual. The four accused, whose
names and occupations are suppressed, are accused of abducting and raping the
complainant then aged 20. Two face extra charges of unlawful sexual
connection. The men, now aged
between 40 and 53, are accused of attacking the complainant in Mt Maunganui
in January 1989. Opening the crown's
case lawyer Brent Stanaway said the attack was a joint enterprise between the
accused, one of whom lured the victim to the scene of the attack. He said the
complainant felt unable to respond as she was raped and felt she had no
choice but to submit. Lawyers for the accused
have told the jury that the sex was consensual. All four defence lawyers told
the jury that sex did occur, but the complainant consented. One of the lawyers
Rachel Adams said her client genuinely believed the woman was a willing
participant. The trial, which is
subject to numerous suppression orders, is set down for two weeks. |
