Teen sex, alcohol and social media in spotlight at trial

File photo / NZ Herald

A case involving teenage sex, alcohol and social media is continuing to unravel in the New Plymouth High Court. A teenager's motives behind accusing two young men of sexually violating her and putting a video of the incident on Facebook, were questioned today.

The 18-year-old alleges the men took advantage of her being drunk at a party last year, and had a threesome with her without her consent.

Defence layer, Susan Hughes QC, told the woman she only made the complaint as she was embarrassed about the saga being played out on Facebook, and didn't want to be thought of as a slut.

She said, "You're trying to make this dramatic aren't you?".

Brought to tears, the woman said she understood why people didn't come forward with rape claims.

She said she "couldn't give a f" about her reputation anymore and was fighting for what's right.

Ms Hughes also questioned why one of the complainant's best friends didn't show any concern for her wellbeing, when she was trying to piece together what happened at the party the following day.

She said the woman's friend was blunt, telling her in a text, "we saw mate".

Ms Hughes also questioned the complainant's reliability, prompting her to say that occasionally drinking to the point you can't remember anything is normal for teenagers.

The other defence lawyer, Paul Keegan, then told the woman the only two people in the courtroom who actually remember the sexual encounter, were the defendants.

A Court of Appeal judge has reserved his decision over whether the defendants' name suppression will be lifted.