Woman claims rape, refuses to talk to police

Press, 22 July 1989, Page 3

Woman claims rape, refuses to talk to police

By BARRY CLARKE A woman, aged 20, who claims she was raped while walking home from a Christchurch nightclub, is refusing to talk to the police.

The victim said she was dragged into a van on the corner of Colombo Street and Gloucester Street about 12.30 a.m. yesterday, driven to Latimer Square, and raped. Her attacker let her go, and after speaking with a friend she went to the Central Police Station two hours later to report the incident. She then refused to be examined by a female doctor and would only give police a description of the man and confirm she did not know him. Attempts by the police

to speak to the woman several hours later were again turned down. “We’re hampered because of the decision of the complainant not to proceed. We can’t take it any further,” said Detective Senior-Sergeant Mike Muddiman. The woman was in a distressed state when she arrived at the police station. There were no signs of injury and her; clothing was not damaged, said Detective Senior-Ser-geant Muddiman. The police have referred the woman to a support agency. Her alleged attacker is described as a European, aged about 30, slim build, short dark hair, wearing a blue scarf and jeans and driving a white van.