51/2 YEARS' JAIL - But accused maintains he did nothing wrong

Supporters of a Northland tourism leader convicted of rape have been told comments about the man's conviction were ill-informed.
Peter Kitchen, 56, of Kaitaia, was sentenced in the Whangarei District Court yesterday to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment.
He had been found guilty at a May 18 Kaikohe District Court jury trial of raping a teenage girl and three counts of indecently assaulting her.
The offending took place in the early 1980s.
Kitchen submitted 80 references from schools, businesses, ordinary people and two politicians.
Judge John McDonald told the court some of the references contained comments on the verdict and the judiciary.
"The jury heard the evidence - they heard her, they heard you. They accepted what she said and rejected what you said in your evidence," Judge McDonald said.
"So for people to stand up and make ill-informed comments about the verdict or the justice system in general is inappropriate."
However, he said the supporters' comments on the verdict and judiciary would have no bearing on the sentence.
Defence lawyer Arthur Fairley said the references were proof of Kitchen's devotion to his family, the Far North and the tourism industry.
Kitchen was a director of the Tai Tokerau Maori and Cultural Tourism Association and the New Zealand Maori Tourism Council.
Mr Fairley said his 56-year-old client had had a heart attack at age 40.
Kitchen had been assisting inmates at the Ngawha Corrections Facility on cultural issues, he said.
Judge McDonald said, according to the probation report, Kitchen still denied any wrongdoing against the victim, who was vulnerable and looked up to him as a "big brother".
He said Kitchen abused her trust. The offending had a traumatic effect on her life.
Judge McDonald fixed a starting point of five years for rape and added 18 months for indecent assault.
He deducted 12 months, given Kitchen's age, medical conditions and his contribution to his community.
A large group of family and friends were in court for Kitchen's sentencing. Northland-based MP John Carter was in the public gallery and later told the Northern Advocate he was there to support Kitchen's family.
Mr Carter was not one of the two MPs - who gave references - the judge had referred to.
In May, the jury found the offences took place while the victim had been on holiday.
Kitchen had indecently assaulted her in his ute on a gravel road en route to his Paparore farm between January and February, 1982. Kitchen was also found guilty of raping the girl and indecently assaulting her twice at his home.