Christopher Mana Manuel (left) and Keith Anthony Mc Ewen, with a security guard at an earlier court hearing. Photo / Northern Advocate
The men who attacked and raped two Dutch tourists posed as policemen to get into their campervan, the Crown claims.
Details of the abduction of the tourists, exposing the full horror of their ordeal, were released today.
The tourists, whose names are suppressed, were on their honeymoon when
they were abducted at gunpoint on November 10 last year at Haruru Falls, in the Bay of Islands.
On Monday, Keith Anthony McEwen, 30 -- one of two men accused of the attack -- pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including rape.
Co-accused, Christopher Mana Manuel, 27, is yet to enter a plea to any of the charges. He has been remanded in custody.
In a statement to police, released in Kaikohe District Court today, McEwen said he planned to rob the couple to pay off a drug debt.
The court was told the attackers allegedly posed as police officers, telling the couple to open their campervan.
A shotgun was placed under the husband's chin as the intruders demanded money, saying they would rape his wife if he didn't comply.
The summary said they handcuffed the tourists, forcing the woman to swallow sedatives, then gagging her with tape.
The woman was then sexually assaulted by McEwen.
Using the couple's moneycard, the intruders allegedly withdrew $900 from a money machine, later dumping the tourists in a paddock.
McEwen said he was using methamphetamine at the time.
He has admitted his part in the kidnapping of both tourists and to the rape and sexual violation of the female tourist.
He has also admitted using their money card at an ATM at Kawakawa.
Until today, an interim suppression order prevented the news media from revealing details in the 13-page summary of facts.
Judge Anne Kiernan on Monday convicted McEwen on all the charges to which he pleaded guilty.
He will be sentenced on April 19.
- NZPA
