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Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Accused cop to give evidence

By Sam Hurley
Hawkes Bay Today·
7 May, 2014 11:04 PM4 mins to read

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Adam Dunnett (left), outside Napier Courthouse, with lawyer Jonathan Krebs. Photo/Paul Taylor

Adam Dunnett (left), outside Napier Courthouse, with lawyer Jonathan Krebs. Photo/Paul Taylor

Charged with 10 sexual offences, Hawke's Bay police officer Adam Dunnett will take the witness stand today and defend himself on day four of his trial.

The 37-year-old Flaxmere constable denies the 10 counts of indecent assault on five teenage woman. In total, the Crown alleged there were five different incidents, four occurring at the Ocean Beach Surf Club and one at the Taradale Fire Station between May 2011 and New Year's Day 2013.

Towards the end of proceedings yesterday , defence lawyer Jonathan Krebs said Dunnett and several other witnesses may be called to contend the charges.

In total, Crown prosecutor Gavin Thornton had called 16 witnesses, including the five alleged victims to give evidence at the Napier District Court.

Dunnett denies any "indecent" acts or contact between himself and the five teenage girls, Mr Krebs said.

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One incident, which occurred at the surf club in the early hours of January 1, 2013 was a case of his client being "mis-identified", he added.

Yesterday afternoon, the fifth and final alleged victim gave evidence regarding an incident on New Year's Day 2013.

After celebrating with boxes of Cody's on Ocean Beach, she and a friend made their way to the surf club. "We were friendly girls and we like to meet people and party on." She said while standing on the verandah of the surf club a man's hand slipped down her pants.

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"He intimidated me and it did make me feel uncomfortable... When people would walk past he would take his hand out."

After leaving the party in tears, she told her family and friends about the incident.

"The lifeguards had a fair idea about who I was talking about."

She later identified the man as Dunnett when shown a series of police photographs. Mr Krebs argued it was a case of mistaken identity and Dunnett was not the person described by the complainant during a police interview as in his late 30s or early 40s, tanned, short black hair with bits of grey and a wedding ring on his left hand.

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Dunnett has not worn a wedding ring throughout the trial but the teenager was adamant he was the offender.

The complainants friend, who accompanied her to the party, also gave evidence and sent a sharp, glaring stare towards Dunnett as she made her way to the witness box.

She said despite being "badly effected" by alcohol she remembered a man behind the complainant, and her friend with an "uncomfortable look" on her face.

Earlier in the day emotions ran high as a witness yelled across the court "that is a lie", when questioned by Mr Krebs about her recollection of a separate incident. A December 2011 party at the surf club.

"I saw Adam behind [complainant], spooning her, so I quickly ran out of the room because I was scared... I ran into the toilet, I was shocked and scared," she said.

"I heard [the complainant] call out 'f*** off'."

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During cross-examination Dunnett's lawyer, Jonathan Krebs, said the alcohol the witness had consumed had "clouded [her] view of everything".

He also claimed the witness had "developed in [her] mind" a different series of events and did not see Dunnett lying in bed with her friend.

"That is a lie! Yes, I did see them on that bed," she responded.

On Tuesday the complainant from the December 2011 party gave evidence. She said Dunnett made several attempts to touch her before he took her into one of the club's rooms.

She said later in the evening, after going to sleep in the club house, she awoke to find the 37-year-old behind her with one hand down her pants and one on her bra while lying on a bed.

Dunnett, who was a volunteer lifeguard director and coach at Ocean Beach, is still employed with police but is suspended on full pay.

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A police spokeswoman told Hawke's Bay Today police were not covering his legal costs.

The trial, before Judge Les Atkins QC, continues.

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