Jury clears sailors of sex attack on colleague at Devonport base

Two Navy ratings who were accused of raping and sexually violating a female colleague have been found not guilty.

After a five-day trial at the Auckland District Court, a jury acquitted Sidney Walter Mcann Junior Ranapia, 22, and Riki Percival Eriha Roberts, 25, of four counts of rape, four of sexual violation and one of attempted sexual violation.

The two men never denied having sex in November 2007 with the complainant who was also based at the Devonport navy base, but said the sex was consensual. The three had been drinking alcohol at a Devonport reserve and then went to two bars before all going to a cabin at the base.

The jury deliberated for eight hours before returning with their verdicts. Two of the verdicts were unanimous while the rest were majority ones.

Mr Roberts' lawyer, Michael Levett, said the two men had always maintained their innocence.

"They maintained their story from the very outset. They didn't change their story or say something new from what they told police at the beginning."

He said Mr Roberts was "relieved" the trial was over.

It took two years to get to trial from when the allegations were first made which was hard for the accused and the complainant, who were also unfamiliar with the court process, he said.