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Offender Databases Taitusi Otufangavalu

Taitusi Otufangavalu

Alias

.

Offences

Rape of a 20 year old Christchurch woman in July 2006

Victims

.

Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1953

Current Location

unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to three years six months in July 2007
Was eligible for parole

Background
From Christchurch Press story 18th July 2007
A man described as a devout Christian who went out with a young woman ostensibly to buy takeaways instead took her to a motel where he tried to rape her, a court has been told.

Taitusi Otufangavalu, 54, who was found guilty by a jury on two charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and one of attempted rape, was yesterday jailed for 3 years 6 months by Christchurch District Court Judge Phil Moran. "It is a tragic day for you, for your family and supporters, but let's not forget it's a tragedy for the victim," the judge said.

On July 3 last year, Otufangavalu was drinking with friends when he decided to go out for takeaways. He left in a van with the 20-year-old victim for that purpose, but could not find anything open and ended up in Rolleston. "At some point you decided you would try it on with the young lady," the judge said.At Rolleston, he told her he wanted to check into a motel for the night because he was too drunk to drive. "That, of course, was nonsense," the judge said.

A motel was booked and against the woman's protests Otufangavalu removed her clothing, sexually violated her and tried to rape her. It was his contention the victim consented, but that was rejected by the jury. It was an aggravating factor that there was premeditation, with violence used, and she was effectively a captive, the judge said.

Otufangavalu was a trusted friend of the family and member of the Tongan community, and was therefore in a position of trust and authority over the victim. A bad feature of the case was that the woman had since been ostracised by the same community, the judge said.

Prosecutor Shannon Litt said the crimes had a profound emotional effect on the victim, who lost her job as a result and suffered financially as well. Otufangavalu tried to make out she was a liar. Otufangavalu's counsel, Pip Hall, said the violence was more incipient than overt. Otufangavalu was otherwise a loving father of two teenagers, and a staunch churchgoer.

The judge said he would be as merciful as possible, taking into account Otufangavalu suffered a family tragedy last year, when his wife died. He also had health problems and was otherwise of good character, taking part in regular charitable work.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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