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The family of the woman who brought sexual assault charges against league star Tea Ropati have spoken of their concern the not-guilty verdict may deter women coming forward with sexual abuse claims.
Ropati was cleared of six sexual violation charges by an Auckland District Court jury on Thursday.
The woman's family, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said they were astounded and devastated.
"We fear for the ongoing safety of women in New Zealand but strongly urge people to continue coming forward if they have been a victim of sexual assault," they said.
They were shocked by lawyer Gary Gotlieb's accusation that police charged Ropati only to make a name for the newly formed adult sexual abuse unit.
"It is unfathomable for us to comprehend ... that our family member, after going through such a difficult trial, continues to be denigrated by the defence team. This is a sad and unjust way in which to resolve what continues to be a very real and serious problem in our society."
Mr Gotlieb said last night that he could have been harsher in his comments. "I think they could be in self-denial of her role in the whole thing."
The officer in charge of the case, Detective Nicolas Poore, told the Herald this week that police knew the case would be difficult to prove.
In an interview with New Zealand Woman's Weekly, the woman said she had no regrets on pursuing the case.
"If this trial makes men think twice about women who are drunk, if it makes one person put a drunk woman in a taxi ... or even makes a woman think twice about getting drunk, then the ordeal has been worth it," she said.
Women's Refuge chief executive Heather Henare said women were "absolutely" put off coming forward with their complaints when cases came back not guilty. "
It makes them ask, what's the point ... why should we bother?"
She said that after the Louise Nicholas trials refuges were flooded with calls from people who said they believed her, despite the verdicts.
"If Louise Nicholas had given up, all those other women wouldn't have come forward."
IN DOCK FOR DRINK-DRIVING
* Tea Ropati was back before a judge yesterday just one day after his acquittal on sex charges.
* Ropati admitted one charge of drink-driving when he appeared in the Auckland District Court.
* He recorded a breath-alcohol level of 821 micrograms - the legal limit is 400mcg - when police stopped him on New Year's Day.
* In court, defence lawyer Gary Gotlieb told the judge Ropati had endured a tough period recently.
* Mr Gotlieb said the drink-driving charge was the first Ropati had received and he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
* He was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $620 and $130 court costs.
* Ropati told reporters he was just glad the court action was finally over.
* The woman's story appears exclusively in the latest issue of the New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
