Five years jail for rape

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 14

Five years jail for rape

PA Auckland A rapist who allegedly wrote "Welcome to the Aids club" on his victim’s bedroom mirror was yesterday jailed for five years.

The 15-year-old girl raped by Chris Taipari Wells, aged 20. accused him of writing the message. but Mr Justice Smellie said he could not take this into account when

sentencing Wells in the High Court at Auckland yesterday. It was not proved beyond doubt and Wells gave evidence that he was healthy.

Wells was found guilty by a jury of two charges of sexual violation by rape on September 23 and 29.

His Honour said Wells used force on the girl to rape her in her own

home. He talked his way into the house onj both occasions and returned a third time, when he thumped on doors and windows as the girl telephoned for help. Wells’s counsel. Mr John Gerard, said the rape was not as savage as ones that occurred with extreme violence in public lavatories, parks or nightclubs. Wells’s mother said he

had always been “a good boy" and the present trouble was a shock. He was not likely to be a repeat sex offender, she said.

Ms Margaret Robins, for the Crown, said that as a result of being raped the complainant was afraid to make new friends, no longer trusted males, and worried about being raped again.