Rape inquiry fruitless

Press, 28 December 1978, Page 4

Rape inquiry fruitless

Christchurch detectives have drawn a blank in their search for two Polynesians who alegedly abducted and raped a schoolgirl, aged 14, on Sunday afternoon.

Police appeals for witnesses to the abduction had brought an excellent response from the public, a C. 1.8. spokesman said. All calls had been checked but no arrest had been made by last evening. The girl told the police that she had been forced into a car in Cashel Street, between Madras and Barbadoes Streets, at 3.15 pan. on Sunday.

She said she had been beaten about the head by the two men, taken to a suburban house, been raped, and then drooped off back on Cashel Street.

The girl said the house was of brick, with a small porch n the centre front, and a bright green weatherboard louse next door.

Many members of the public had called the police after the description of the house was published, but follow-up inquiries had proved fruitless, the police said.

A squad of detectives had been assigned to the case,

which was being treated “very seriously,” said Detective Senior-Sergeant A. G. I. Rodgers, of the Christchurch C. 1.8.

Detectives have made no arrest yet in connection with the supicious fire which destroyed a 100-year-old building at Kaiapoi early on Saturday.

Insurance assessors are still trying to determine the cost of the damage to the building, a three-storey storage shed in Charles Street, used by North Canterbury Auto Spares, Ltd.