KEY POINTS:
A police recruit accused of choking and raping a prostitute suggested to a fellow trainee officer that they switch fingerprint samples, a court has heard.
The 33-year-old recruit, whose name is suppressed, is on trial in the High Court at Christchurch for the rape and serious assault of the prostitute he picked up in March 2003.
No suspect had been found for the rape until about two years later when the recruit took part in a routine fingerprint training exercise at the Royal NZ Police College at Porirua.
In the Crown's opening address yesterday, prosecutor Phil Shamy said the recruit's fingerprints matched those found on a windowsill at the prostitute's home.
But before the match was confirmed, there was confusion when the recruit's name was mixed up with another trainee officer he had been paired up with on the exercise.
To sort this out, the exercise was repeated, with the recruit partnered with another trainee.
Mr Shamy said: "This time [the accused] suggested they switch names so no one would find out what [the other trainee] may have done."
Mr Shamy said the accused had also told his partner: "I wonder what they are looking for. Are they looking for an old murder or something?"
The prostitute told police the recruit had approached her in Christchurch's red light district and offered $150 for sex.
She had to climb in the window of her house, and let the recruit in through the door. They had a hot drink and talked for 15 to 20 minutes.
Mr Shamy said the recruit then placed his hand on her thigh, and taking this as a sign to get to business, she asked for the money up front.
"Then he goes to his back pocket and then his demeanour changes completely and he snaps. He grabs her with one hand and they wrestle."
The recruit then strangled her until she blacked out. She came to when her boyfriend started knocking on her window. The recruit was gone.
"She's in her bra and knickers and her skirt has been removed. The room is in disarray and there is blood on the wall where she has been struck or hit.
"She has no idea what has happened apart from the fact her underwear has been pulled to one side and she feels like she has had sex."
Twenty-one witnesses are expected to be called in the trial, which is expected to last up to two weeks.
