A Christchurch schoolboy has admitted sexually assaulting a number of teenage girls. He initially claimed all sexual activity was consensual but has now admitted a number of charges. Photo / 123rf
A Christchurch schoolboy has admitted sexually assaulting a number of teenage girls. He initially claimed all sexual activity was consensual but has now admitted a number of charges. Photo / 123rf
WARNING: This story refers to sexual offending
Christchurch teen charged with multiple rapes, sex offences
Part-way through his trial, tells judge that lesser amended charges are “not denied”
Girls face their abuser in court, maintain they did not give consent
Youth must complete “harmful sexual behaviour” programmed to avoid District Court sentencing
The trial for a Christchurch schoolboy accused of multiple rapes and sexual violations against four teenage girls has concluded early.
The 16-year-old was originally facing two charges of rape, two of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, two of unlawful sexual connection witha person under 16 and one charge of performing an indecent act on a young person.
He denied all of those charges, maintaining any sexual contact with the victims was consensual.
But today he told the court he did not deny four amended charges - three of sexual connection with a young person under the age of 16 and one of indecent exposure.
In the Youth Court defendants do not plead guilty or not guilty to charges - they either state the charges are denied or not denied.
Due to his age, nothing that would identify the youth can be published.
Video interviews of the police interviews with the four victims were played, then the teens were questioned and cross-examined in person by the prosecution and defence.
Further evidence was going to be presented to the court today but the case was instead resolved.
Judge Mills heard the young person did not deny the amended charges.
The original charges were withdrawn.
This afternoon Crown prosecutor Christina Hallawell read an agreed summary of facts in court - outlining the charges the youth had “not denied”.
She explained that the youth was known to all of his victims.
The first incident was in 2021 when the victim was 13 and had just finished intermediate.
The youth was 14.
The victim had been his girlfriend “for a few weeks”.
Hallawell said the youth “had his penis out of his fly” and was “moving around the group trying to get their attention”.
“When spoken to by police the defendant confirmed sexual connection with all (three) girls but stated that it was all consensual,” said Hallawell.
In regards to the park incident, he said he “may have exposed himself”.
The girls were all known to the offender - two were current or previous girlfriends. Photo / File
The youth was remanded on bail - with strict conditions including not speaking to anyone outside his immediate family about the case - until his next court date.
On that date, a Family Group Conference will be held where the next steps are decided for the youth.
His lawyer Elizabeth Bulger said he would be attending the Stop programme.
One of the girls was visibly shaking as the resolution was discussed - but the group remained silent throughout the hearing.
Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years with a particular focus on family violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz
