Doctor for trial on drug rape charges

Two girls found suffering symptoms similar to being drunk could have been drugged with something like date rape drug Fantasy, a physician told a depositions hearing for a doctor charged with sexual offences against young women.

The doctor, whose name is suppressed, faces 13 charges of rape, unlawful sexual connection, stupefying with intent to commit a crime, indecent assault and doing an indecent act. There are nine alleged victims over several months in 2001 and 2002.

At the end of yesterday's hearing, defence lawyer Greg King admitted there was a case to answer. Judge Jill Moss, in the Wellington District Court, committed the doctor for trial.

He was given bail to appear in the High Court at Wellington on April 7.

Consultant physician Geoffrey Robinson interviewed two girls who had been at the doctor's apartment on March 30 last year, where they said they were given alcohol.

He said one reported being "wasted", while the other felt sleepy.

One of the girls had a poor recollection of the events, but did remember a man being on top of her.

The other girl felt clumsy, sleepy and was nauseous.

Dr Robinson said it was consistent with drug intoxication and named several drugs that could produce similar effects, including Fantasy.

He told Mr King that while he would expect similar symptoms from alcohol, it would require more than the girls said they had drunk.

He would also not expect the sleepiness or the loss of memory from the amount of alcohol they had consumed.

Dr Robinson said blood and urine samples would not have been useful since he did not see the girls until nearly three months later.

Most of the complainants said they met the doctor through internet chatrooms. One 14-year-old said they were in constant contact, either by internet, text messaging or phone. They progressed to a sexual relationship that she said was consensual.

Two South Island girls said he indecently touched them the first time they met. One woman, who came upon friends drinking with the doctor, said he got his stethoscope from his car and she tried to listen to her own heartbeat. He put his hand down her shirt with the stethoscope to show her how. A short time later he touched her breasts and tried to put a hand in her pants.

- NZPA