Crime was ‘almost inhuman’

Press, 19 December 1981, Page 23

Crime was ‘almost inhuman’

PA Auckland Two men who forced their way into a Glen Innes house by masquerading as policemen, ransacked it, and subjected the three young occupants to sexual and physical abuse, raping one woman five times, have been jailed by an Auckland High Court judge.

Mr Justice Prichard sentenced Stanley Steven Popata, aged 23, unemployed, of Onehunga, to eight years imprisonment. Keith Turner Cullen, aged 22, an advertising salesman, of Glen Innes, was jailed for seven years. Popata had earlier admitted three counts of rape, three of kidnapping, one of aggravated assault, and two of unlawful entering of a building. He had also admitted 17 unrelated counts of burglary and four counts of unlawfully taking a motorvehicle. Cullen had admitted two counts of rape, three of kidnapping, and one each of

aggravated assault, burglary, and entering a. building with intent. His Honour said that after Popata and Cullen gained entry to the Glen Innes house on the night of November 4 the outcome was “almost inhuman.”

The occupants, two young women and a man, were made to strip naked and lie on the lounge floor while the two men ransacked the flat. One girl was subjected to sexual abuse and raped five times over a period of several hours, his Honour said.

Twice during the evening the three young people were foi ced to drive Popata and Cullen to . two different greenhouses where they removed several boxes of cannabis plants. After each trip they were taken back to their flat and again made to strip and lie on the floor, his Honour said.

Later, the terrified girl, after being raped for the

fifth time, was able to escape through a window. For the crown. Mr Russell Johnson said it was a night of terror, physical abuse, and sexual indignity which put the offences into the most serious category.

The occupants of the house had no connection with the accused, he said.

For Popata, counsel, Mr K. A. Deane, said the offences were the result of an overindulgence in alcohol, exacerbated by the use of some illicit drug’ Popata, the product of a low socio-economic background, had been put in the care of Social Welfare at an early age. He had received no proper discipline or instruction on how to live within society.

For Cullen, counsel, Mr R. S. Chambers, said that he faced sentence with “a heavy heart,” knowing that his behaviour had been unfair, improper, and inhuman, and that drink in large part had

led him to commit the offences.

“When these two (violence and drink) are joined together they often spawn indignities to women and children. and so often the offenders are Maoris.”

He wondered who cared and who was prepared to tackle “such great problems." There were no Maori missioned in court or members of Cullen's family to stand by him.

"I often think the likes of Minto, Cuthbert, Kelsey, and company should take up the challenge and help their own people rather than concerning themselves with challenges to foreign discipline," Mr Chambers said.

The complainant who had been raped- had suffered dreadful indignities, and though she was not badly beaten she would no doubt have psychological difficulties from what had happened, said Mr Chambers.