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A suspended police recruit acquitted on charges of attacking and sexually violating a Christchurch prostitute hopes to continue his Police College training.
The 33-year-old Christchurch man, whose fingerprints were found on the window of a Christchurch flat where prostitute Jaqueline Howat was attacked and strangled into unconsciousness in March 2003, said yesterday he held no grudges.
Through his lawyer, James Rapley, the man, whose interim name suppression was made permanent after his acquittal in Christchurch District Court yesterday afternoon, said he was "very relieved and pleased with the result".
"It's taken a heavy toll on him over these last two years or so," Mr Rapleysaid. "It's been very stressful for him and his family."
Mr Rapley said the man was fortunate in having "great support" from his family, friends and colleagues.
"He's very grateful for the time and attention the jury gave to deliberating its verdict."
A jury of eight women and four men took just under four hours to reach a decision on the seventh day of the recruit's trial.
He denied charges of wounding Ms Howat with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, sexually violating her, and an alternative charge of assaulting her with intent to commit sexual violation.
He was acquitted on all charges.
The recruit admitted picking up Ms Howat in Christchurch's Manchester St red-light district early on March 15, 2003, but adamantly denied attacking her.
Fingerprints taken during a training exercise at the Police College in Porirua in September 2005 were alleged to have linked the recruit to the attack.
Mr Rapley said his client was still keen to pursue a career in the police, a long-held ambition following a stint in the Army. "He wants to finish his training at Police College and he'd love to rejoin the police force," he said.
The man intended to approach police and express his wish for the suspension imposed when he was arrested at the college to be lifted.
"He will be talking to police in the first instance," said Mr Rapley, who is a barrister and won't be representing the recruit in any employment-related matters.
"Hopefully he'll be able to rejoin the police and continue in his career that he's been wanting to do for many years."
Mr Rapley said the recruit had "a lot of sympathy" for Ms Howat, who took the unusual step last week of asking Judge Murray Abbott to lift the permanent name suppression that automatically applies to victims of sex crimes.
"He holds no grudges or hard feelings at all," he said. "There's no question she's been attacked by someone. He hopes the attacker is found and he wishes her all the best."
- NZPA
