Burglar assaulted woman after watching her shower

A man who wore latex gloves when he broke into a Hamilton woman's home and watched her shower before grabbing her has been found guilty of burglary and assault.

A Hamilton District Court jury yesterday took less than an hour to find Aaron Solomon Wanihi, 38, guilty of burglary, assault with intent to rob and assault with intent to commit sexual violation.

"This case was one that sent shivers down the spine of just about everyone here ... the fact that he wore latex gloves made it even more chilling," Judge Robert Spear said after the jury delivered its verdicts.

Wanihi faces the prospect of an indefinite jail sentence after Judge Spear ordered psychological and psychiatric reports to determine his eligibility for preventive detention.

Last month, a jury found him guilty of six charges of indecencies on a girl aged under 15.

Yesterday, the court heard that when police stopped Wanihi at Five Cross Roads, east of the city centre, on November 16 last year, he was sweating and a latex glove fell to the gutter.

Crown prosecutor Mark Sturm told the court that a sample of the glove matched two pieces found on the victim's bedroom floor, and a smear of blood from the victim's wrist was 4000 billion times more likely to have come from Wanihi than anyone else.

Mr Sturm said it was clear that Wanihi had stalked his victim, watched her as she worked at her computer and then showered, before he grabbed her and demanded money.

Wanihi's lawyer, Kit Clews, acknowledged there was a "juggernaut of evidence against Aaron Wanihi" but said his client "doggedly refused to accept that he was responsible".

Wanihi was remanded in custody to appear again in Hamilton District Court on February 8.

- NZPA