Five may hold rape clues

Police have released security camera images of five people who may hold the key to a Christmas Eve rape in a central Auckland lane.

A 24-year-old woman was raped just after 1am in Mills Lane, a secluded road running parallel with Queen St.

Detective Constable Mark Greaves said the quintet may have been in the area at the time and could hold vital information without knowing it.

"We'd very much like to hear from the people whose images are on the CCTV footage who were in the vicinity ... irrespective of whether or not they heard or saw anything," said Greaves.

"While we are confident we will eventually track this offender down, we need the assistance of our public eyes and ears to do so."

The victim was sitting on a bench in nearby Albert St waiting for a taxi when a European in his late 20s approached.

He struck up a conversation and suggested she go with him to Mills Lane to catch a taxi. He raped her soon after, near a roller door.

The woman is understood to have been so traumatised by the attack she could not speak and "freaked out" when taken back to the scene by police.

It was several weeks before she could be interviewed by the adult sexual assault team.

Greaves said the five people in the photos could have seen the attacker and the woman walking to the scene.

They could have seen the attacker fleeing or the distraught woman afterwards or even heard the rape as it was occurring.

He said the woman was European with shoulder-length dark hair.

She is understood to have been unable to give enough of a description of the man who attacked her for an artist's impression because of the effect the rape has had on her.

Greaves urged the five people pictured, or anyone else with information, to contact him on (09) 302-6514 or email mark.greaves@police.govt.nz.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.