A man has pleaded not guilty to raping a 94-year-old woman during a home invasion in Napier.
The 25-year-old, who has interim name suppression, appeared in Napier District Court today before Judge Russell Collins and via audiovisual link from prison, where he is in custody pending a case-review hearing in the court on October 7.
He has at least one unrelated appearance in another court in September.
![Judge Russell Collins, pictured in an Auckland court two years ago. He was formerly Crown Prosecutor in Napier and recently returned to Hawke's Bay. Photo / File](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/AUEOAHKMQ2CK7JUIKOJCEFT4GA.jpg?auth=24dd23b4c8231802f428d5b6c8733236bc7f959f7541d24fc510af9ddce6e890&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
The accused faces one charge of rape, two of sexual violation, one of assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and one of aggravated burglary. Lawyer Nicola Graham, standing-in for Gisborne defence counsel Elliot Lynch, said he pleaded not guilty to each charge.