New DNA evidence has led to a man being charged with a rape that occurred 17 years ago.
The 37-year-old Wanganui man appeared in the District Court yesterday on charges relating to the abduction and rape of a Hawke’s Bay woman in 1998.
He faces charges of threatening to kill, abduction, aggravated assault and rape. He was remanded in custody to reappear in court again on 15 April.
Detective Sergeant Tim Smith of the Hawke's Bay Sexual Assault Team said the alleged rape occurred in the early hours of the morning in Napier on the 6th of February 1998.
The female victim who was 27 at the time, had left a Napier bar and was found a short time later in distress on the beach near Marine Parade.
While the incident was reported the arrest didn’t follow until 17 years later as a result of forensic developments in the case.
Mr Smith said the victim was emotional but very relieved when told of the new developments and the arrest.
