Rape accused: She seemed happy

One of four men accused of gang rape at Mt Maunganui 16 years ago told police the woman involved had cuddled up and did not seem distressed after the alleged incident.

The accused, now aged 40, was interviewed by Detective Sergeant Maxwell Taylor after the woman lodged a complaint with police in May last year.

The accused told police he had arrived at an empty building after a colleague, who was also before the court, told him a woman had agreed to have sex with four people there.

When he arrived the three other accused men were waiting outside the building. Inside he found the woman naked, but told police she did not seem distressed.

Mr Taylor told the High Court at Wellington yesterday that the accused had said "nothing gave me the impression she had been abused".

"There was no concern on my part she did not want to have sex. She seemed to enjoy it," the accused told police.

After sex the couple dressed together while chatting.

Mr Taylor said the accused told him that as he drove the woman back to work she had her hand around his waist and was sitting close to him.

"This gave me the impression she was happy to be with me."

The woman alleges she was raped by five men in January 1989 after she was lured to an empty building, on the promise of a lunch date with one of the accused she had a crush on. A fifth man has never been identified.

The men, who are also charged with abduction, admit having sex with the woman but say it was consensual.

Extensive suppression orders prevent the identity of the men or their occupation being disclosed.

Detective Sergeant John Price told the court he had interviewed another of the accused, now aged 47. In a brief statement the accused denied raping the woman.

- NZPA