Rape intent claim

Press, 31 January 1984, Page 4

Rape intent claim

A man was alleged in the District Court yesterday to have tried to rape a woman he knew after entering her house. the defendant, Bunny Te Hiko, aged 27, unemployed, faced charges of unlawfully entering the woman’s dwelling, assaulting the woman, and assaulting her with intent to commit rape—soon after midnight last November 12. Depositions of evidence of the complainant and one other witness were heard yesterday. Mr R. C. Holland and Mrs C. M. Holmes, Justices off the Peace, adjourned the case to today for completion.

Sergeant G. C. Jones prosecuted, and Mr A. N. D. Garrett appeared for the defendant. Prosecution evidence was that the defendant entered the woman’s house through an insecure window. The woman heard “tinkering” in the house and turned the light on to see the defendant

naked at her bedroom door. He lunged at her and she fell back on the bed. She screamed and kicked and they fell to the floor. The bedside lamp was knocked over and the light went out. The defendant tried to stop the complainant screaming, and told her to shut up or he would kill her. He tried to force her legs apart.

He held his hands on the woman’s throat and she was swallowing blood.

He released his hold after she said she would be quiet. When the complainant tried to turn the light on another struggle began and the defendant picked her up and threw her on to the bed.

She continued screamng and kicking, and called out to a young person in another room. She told the defendant to let her go, and that she would make some coffee.

She got the light on and saw the other young occupant in the hall. She told this person that the defendant had tried to rape her. She telephoned the police.

She heard the defendant in the bathroom and realised he was putting on his clothes. The defendant told her to “ring the cops” and he would tell them he had come to rape her. The complainant said that she suffered bruising in the incident, and her throat hurt. She received a cut lip and was still receiving physiotherapy treatment for a strained back. She could hardly walk after the attack, she said.

A young person in the house at the time said the woman screamed loudly, and looked terrible and was very upset.

The defendant came into the kitchen later with his clothing unbuttoned on his chest.