Second offender sought for savage rape of 14-year-old

A second person allegedly involved in a brutal rape and stabbing of a teenage girl is being sought by police.

A youth has been charged in connection with the attack but police allege he had a co-offender.

A 16-year-old appeared in the Manukau Youth Court yesterday charged with attempted murder, sexual violation by rape, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, assault and other burglary charges.

The youth, who cannot be identified, did not enter a plea and was remanded for one week to a secure youth justice residence.

Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Schwalger said police had physical evidence of the involvement of a second person in the attack at the girl's Hill Park, Manukau, home early on December 31.

The 14-year-old girl was asleep in her bedroom when she was woken and stabbed 10 times, including one wound just a few millimetres from her carotid artery, and then raped.

She was taken from her house and thrown over a fence into a reserve. Her mother heard her cries for help and found her.

Ms Schwalger said police had initially believed one person was involved.

The inquiry team was going back to the police profile unit for more information about the second person.

The unit has been involved in the inquiry from the beginning and provided detectives with a list of possible suspects.

Ms Schwalger said the girl and her family had moved out of the Hill Park area and she had started the year at a new school.

She had made a remarkable recovery although still had some problems with her voice as a result of a stab wound to her neck.

The girl wanted to come face to face with her attacker, said Ms Schwalger.

"She is tough, really tough."

Anyone with information about the attack can contact the freephone inquiry number on 0800-GERONA (0800-437-662).