Man to be charged over cold-case rape of NZer

A 42-year-old man in England will next week appear before Liverpool Crown Court charged with the rape of a New Zealand woman -- 18 years ago.

Christopher James Coutanche was tracked by London "cold case" detectives after a recent alleged violent attack on another woman.

They linked the 42-year-old through DNA samples with the rape of the New Zealand woman in London in 1988.

He was charged after the London police travelled to interview him at Altcourse Prison, Liverpool, where he is being held on remand for assault.

Coutanche was initially charged with assault after an incident in Garden Village in Wrexham -- where he lives -- on December 30 last year.

It was alleged he drove his car at three people, two of whom were injured, and one of the party was an ex-partner, a 46-year-old Wrexham woman.

The Daily Post newspaper at Conwy, Wales, reported that Coutanche was a member of the Liverpool branch of a mens' rights lobby, Fathers4Justice on November 3 last year.

- NZPA