Teen burglar admits rape of elderly woman

[Rainraven]

A rather disturbing article I read about in my local paper. I was not in the slightest bit surprised when I saw he had a Maori name

The teenager accused of raping a 73-year-old Eltham woman has admitted the charge.

Eltham labourer Taerata Daniel Turahui, 17, has also pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual violation and one of burglary.

In the Hawera District Court yesterday five other charges, including assault with intent to sexually violate and indecent assault, were withdrawn.

Turahui stood in the dock with his back towards the public gallery, where some members of the victim's family were seated, while police prosecutor Mark Wilton read the summary of facts.

Between 3.30am and 5.30am on June 19, Turahui forced open a window at the victim's home.

She was asleep but woke up because of the noise made by the defendant and got up to see what was going on.

She told Turahui to get out of the house but he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her back into the bedroom, Mr Wilton said.

He pushed her to the floor, had his arm on her throat making it hard to breathe and covered her mouth and eyes.

She tried to fight him off and "he told her it would be easier for her to not resist", Mr Wilton said.

Turahui forced the victim on to her bed and although she tried to push him off he was too strong.

He demanded she take off her pyjama pants.

Turahui struck the victim around the head and face and indecently assaulted her.

Mr Wilton said that at one point during the prolonged attack, the victim had tried to push her knees into Turahui's chest to push him off, before she was raped.

The victim was pushed on to the floor and Turahui threw blankets and a mattress on top so she couldn't get up and call for help. He then demanded money and took her purse.

"The victim has been left extremely traumatised," Mr Wilton said.

She had cuts, bruises and tenderness to her chest and ribs.

Police recovered the wallet and, when spoken to, Turahui admitted what he had done.

"In explanation he said he was very drunk and didn't know why he did it," Mr Wilton said. "He said he was sorry."

Police opposed bail but Turahui's lawyer Turitea Bolstad said she would not be making an application for bail but asked for a full pre-sentence report.

He was convicted by Judge Paul Barber and remanded in custody for sentencing on August 31.

[Sol Invictus]

I guess if she was someone who was against the private ownership of firearms for citizens before this happened, I am willing to bet she isn't now..