Naval rating charged

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 12

Naval rating charged

PA Napier The District Court in Napier yesterday heard how an Australian naval rating allegedly attacked a woman after dragging her into a disused car dealer’s yard. The 24-year-old, charged with assault with intent to commit rape, appeared in a deposition hearing. The defendant, who was granted interim suppression of name, denied the charge. At the end of the hearing, Mr K. R. Butson and Mrs I. M. Blair, Justices of the Peace, found there was sufficient evidence to put the defendant on trial. He retained his not guilty

plea and was remanded to the High Court in Napier to December 6 for trial. Evidence was given by the complainant, a 33-year-old Napier woman. She told the Court that in the early hours of January 30 she had walked into the Napier city centre to buy a packet of cigarettes. A male person had run towards her, grabbing her with one hand, clamping the other over her mouth to prevent her from screaming, she said. He dragged her into a secluded alleyway, pushing her to the ground. He then stripped her of her clothing and attempted to rape her several times. These were

unsuccessful. The complainant said she kept touching him in an attempt to calm him. Eventually he relaxed his hold of her and she escap ed. The woman ran naked through Napier streets until seeing other people sitting in a parked vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle told the Court a naked woman had run towards them. She was whimpering and having difficulty in breathing. After hearing of the alleged attack on the woman the couple drove her to the Napier police station. Bail applications were being argued for the defendant.