Youth guilty of raping girl and leaving her for dead

David Mamea has been found guilty of the rape and attempted murder of a 14-year-old girl who was left for dead after being stabbed 10 times.

The jury returned its verdict at 8.30pm, 9 hours after they began deliberations. They found Mamea guilty of attempted murder and rape of the Vietnamese girl but not guilty of being party to the rape committed by another male at the scene who has not yet been caught.

The 18-year-old showed little emotion as the verdicts were read out. He had entered a guilty plea for aggravated burglary before the trial started.

Before retiring the jury of seven men and four women were told by Justice Graham Lang to put aside their feelings of sympathy or prejudice.

"Sympathy can't play any part or influence your decision in any way," he said.

The victim, now 15, was attacked in her bed about 3.30am on December 31, 2004.

She was raped, bitten and stabbed 10 times before being thrown over the back fence and left for dead at her Manurewa home in South Auckland.

Crown prosecutor Steven Haszard said Mamea and another, unidentified, man entered the victim's house with an intent to sexually violate her.

Mr Haszard said because Mamea admitted to stabbing the victim, he had an intent to kill her.

He said Mamea raped her then dumped her over the fence, believing she was dead.

Mamea had said he was forced at gunpoint by four other men to go to the property and they made him stab the victim once.

He said he did not rape her but was told to chuck her over the fence after the others had finished with her.

Mamea has been remanded in custody until June for sentencing.

- HERALD STAFF