Suspected weapon tested

Press, 10 December 1983, Page 9

Suspected weapon tested

Scientific tests are being made on a screwdriver which the Christchurch police believe may have been held to a woman’s neck when she was raped in school grounds in Gloucester Street on Tuesday evening.

The rape victim had seen the screwdriver and said it was similar to the one with which she was threatened, said Detective SeniorSergeant R. G. Carson.

The woman was continually threatened with vio-

lence when she was raped in the grounds of the Christchurch East School.

Mr Carson said a person had passed on the screwdriver to the police on Thursday. It had a 15cm shaft.

The D.S.I.R. is conducting tests on it.

The public had responded excellently to pleas for information on the case, Mr Carson said.

Some people felt they had recognised the alleged rapist after an identikit pic-

ture of him had been published. Detectives were asking those persons identified to account for their movements on Tuesday evening. The police are still interviewing residents in the area where the woman was raped. Her attacker is described as a thick-set Polynesian, in his 30s, and about 173 cm (sft Bin) tall. He has very dark brown skin and straight black hair.