More charges possible after teen arrested over rape

Relevant offers

Crime

Camps 'revolutionary military wing for Aotearoa' court hears Documents reveal Nomads' fighting Mall car fire man admits guilt Mother marks 'double sadness' over son's death Urewera trial: Apology followed shots, court told Top cop criticises Elliott case Police complaint over election programme Bailed Dotcom headed home Academic who killed cyclist to pay $37,000 Accused denies Viaduct manslaughter

Police say further charges are possible following the arrest of a 17-year-old over a brutal daytime attack on a woman in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill.

The teenager appeared in the Auckland Youth Court this morning, charged with rape, assault with intent to commit rape, aggravated wounding and unlawful sexual connection. He was 16 when he is alleged to have carried out the attack.

The youth, who barely raised his head during the appearance, was remanded in Child, Youth and Family custody until his next appearance.

The judge ordered a psychological report, although his reasons for doing so are suppressed.

The charges follow an attack on a 27-year-old woman around 5.30pm on January 17, which police described as vicious.

The woman was later found sitting on a kerb half-naked, confused and seriously distressed. She spent nearly a week recovering from serious injuries in Auckland City Hospital before being discharged on Monday.

The woman's husband found her following the attack, after going to meet her because it was raining and he wanted to pick her up.

Inspector Gary Allcock said the investigation was continuing, in spite of the teenager's arrest.

Officers were investigating whether the attack was related to an incident around an hour earlier the same day where a woman was approached by a man but managed to get away.

They were also inquiring about whether there were any other similar incidents in the area in the past.

Allcock said the teen's arrest was the result of "good, old-fashioned police work", with local officers acting on information from the public.

The teenager was arrested at his home.

It is the second time in recent weeks that a teenager has been accused of rape.

Earlier this month, a 16-year-old pleaded guilty to raping a five-year-old girl at the Turangi holiday park before Christmas in an attack that horrified the country.

The girl and her family were holidaying in New Zealand from Europe. She was attacked in their caravan while her parents were in a nearby amenities block. It is understood the attacker has gang connections and may have been motivated by securing entry to the gang.

Because of the seriousness of the attack, the teen will next month be sentenced as an adult. 

The maximum jail sentence for rape is 20 years.

- © Fairfax NZ News