Raped girl, 13 caught S.T.D.

Press, 20 November 1987, Page 4

Raped girl, 13 caught S.T.D.

PA Wellington A girl, aged 13, caught a sexually-transmitted disease after a man who was looking after her tried to rape her, the High Court at Wellington was told yesterday.

Mr Justice Eichelbaum sentenced Star Te Whetu Waaka to prison for five years and ten months for the attempted sexual violation by rape of the girl. Waaka, aged 49, an A.C.C. beneficiary, had earlier been found guilty of the attempted rape by a High Court jury.

The incident occurred on May 23 at a boat shed in Titahi Bay where Waaka lived.

Sentencing Waaka, Mr Justice Eichelbaum said there were a number of aggravating features to the offence. Waaka had abused his position of trust in relation to the girl, who he had at his mercy in a lonely spot There was only a small difference between what

happened and a case of rape, and the effect on the victim would be much the same as rape, said the Judge. The girl had been infected with a sexual disease as a result Waaka’s probation report revealed that he came from an unfortunate and deprived background. He also had a record of persistent offending, including a conviction for rape 25 years ago, indecent assault in 1983 and assaults against females. A medical report on Waaka said he had a propensity for violence which was activated by alcohol, the Judge said. Taking into account Waaka’s previous convictions and the need to protect the public, a sentence of five years and ten months would be imposed, Mr Justice Eichelbaum said. The two months in custody on remand were taken into account in that sentence.