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Offender Databases James Tabulawaki

James Tabulawaki

Alias

.

Offences

Raped a 16 year old Blenheim girl and seriously assaulted her male companion in April 1999
Aggravated robbery of two elderly women in a separate incident

Victims

.

Offender Affiliations

Trevor Robinson

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1977

Current Location

Unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to eleven years in July 1999

Background
From a Dominion story May 20th 1999
THE "brutal and mindless rape of a schoolgirl" in a Blenheim park last month led to a former Masterton man being jailed for 11 years yesterday. Trevor Gene Robinson, 18, had earlier pleaded guilty to rape, five charges of aggravated assault and three of aggravated robbery. Blenheim District Court was told that Robinson attacked two elderly women in the street before raping the girl and viciously attacking her boyfriend. Judge Richard Watson told Robinson he had read the victim impact reports and each told a distressing story.

Judge Watson said the two elderly victims were now too afraid to go out at night. It would also take a lot of time and counselling for the young couple to get over their ordeal. Defence counsel Mike Turner said Robinson had moved to Blenheim, from Masterton, several weeks before the crimes took place. Robinson's girlfriend had told him, on the day of the attack, she had been unfaithful and wanted to end the relationship.

"He took that news particularly harshly. He said he felt depressed, suicidal and unless he did something crazy he would do something to himself." Judge Watson said Robinson had partaken in a late night, cowardly attack followed by a vicious assault on a young man and the brutal and mindless rape of a young girl. He acknowledged Robinson had spared the four victims from having to give evidence at a trial and he was "bound" to give him credit for his youth and also noted his regret and remorse before sentencing.

The court had earlier heard how, on April 10, Robinson and an associate went into central Blenheim armed with imitation firearms, bandannas and pepper - to put dogs off their scent. They waited beside shrubs in a darkened car park and rushed at two women leaving a social function. Robinson grabbed one woman, showed her his pistol and grabbed her handbag, which contained $5 and some cosmetics.

The pair ran off and headed toward Pollard Park. They confronted a 16-year-old girl and her 16-year-old boyfriend, forced them to lie on the ground, face down, while they searched them. Robinson held his imitation pistol at the man's head and led him to a nearby stream where he pushed him in, held his head under the water, punched him in the head and kicked him about his body. Robinson returned to the girl and raped her.

From a Dominion story July 23rd 1999
A MAN who raped a 16-year-old girl in Pollard Park, Blenheim, and assaulted her boyfriend, was jailed for 11 years yesterday. James Tabulawaki, 22, of Blenheim, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual violation by rape, aggravated robbery, being a party to aggravated robbery, and aggravated assault. In Blenheim District Court, Judge John Walker told Tabulawaki the appropriate penalty was 12 years' imprisonment, but he had reduced this in recognition of a guilty plea.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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