Rapist returned to victim’s home

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 24

Rapist returned to victim’s home

PA Hamilton A Hamilton man who broke into a woman’s home, raped her, and then returned to her new home twice two months later and attempted to break in has been jailed for four years and a half. Rang! David Haumata Hunuhunu Keepa, aged 21, a factory hand, appeared before Mr Justice O’Regan in the High Court at Hamilton on Friday. Keepa was sentenced to four years and a half jail for rape, two years and a half on each of two charges of breaking and entering, and six months for wearing a mask at night without lawful purpose, the terms to be served concurrently. He had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges. The Crown prosecutor, Mr Q. M. Almao, said Keepa had broken into the complainant’s house during June. He had then held a knife to her throat before tying her wrists together and raping her. Mr Almao said Keepa had gone to the complainant’s new house about two months later. When she left to go to a shop, he removed an outside light bulb and hid. When the complainant returned, she noticed the bulb was missing and became alarmed. Keepa ran off. About a week later he had returned again to her house while the complainant was away, Mr Almao said. After the complainant returned home, Keepa smashed a window in the house. The complainant turned on a light which shone on Keepa and told him to leave. He than ran off but returned later to retrieve his clothing, and he was apprehended by the police. His Honour said Keepa had to be sentenced sternly both to punish him and to attempt to protect women from the ordeal the complainant had had to face.