A woman broke down in tears as her abuser was found guilty of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection in the Tauranga District Court.
The dramatic conclusion to the trial was reported today in legacy media.
The incident occurred after a work party, where the victim, heavily intoxicated, was assaulted while asleep in a colleague’s spare bedroom. She recounted the harrowing experience of being forcefully attacked, awaking to a man pinning her down and violating her. Yelling “get the f*** off me” eventually caused the perpetrator to flee.
Despite the defendant’s denial the jury was convinced by the evidence, including a misplaced hat and the victim’s obvious distress in the hours following the incident.
The defence argued that the woman’s high level of intoxication compromised her memory and reliability, suggesting the assault was a fabricated story. However, Crown Solicitor Anna Pollett highlighted the lack of consent due to the victim’s intoxicated and unconscious state. The jury, after deliberating for eight hours, delivered a unanimous guilty verdict. The convicted man, who maintains interim name suppression, was remanded in custody pending sentencing.
Image credit: Tingey Injury Law Firm
