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Offender Databases William Tawhai

William Spring Tawhai

Alias

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Offences

Rape of a Greymouth woman in October 2007
Committed this offence two days after escaping from Christchurch Men's Prison
Also assaulted two police officers
20 previous violence convictions

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1967

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 10 years with a 5 year minimum non-parole period in May 2008

Background
NZ Herald story here
Christchurch Court News story here
From Christchurch Press story 30th May 2008
A prisoner on work release took a woman to a racecourse for sex in her car, then forced her to drive to the West Coast, where she was repeatedly raped, a judge has been told.

William Spring Tawhai, 41, was yesterday jailed for 10 years, with a minimum non-parole term of five years, by Christchurch District Court Judge Michael Crosbie. Tawhai admitted charges of rape, escaping from custody and aggravated assault. The sentence was made concurrent with Tawhai's present term of six years, received in December 2004 for causing grievous bodily harm. The judge said the victim was still distressed, and suffered ongoing pain from a kick to her back. She also suffered financial loss. She found it hard to trust people, and experienced nightmares and flashbacks.

"She does not feel she has a life any more. You are a violent man with 20 previous convictions for violence," the judge said. Tawhai had so far refused to take part in violence-prevention programmes but had reached the point where unless he did there was little hope for rehabilitation. "This was violent and gratuitous sexual conduct," the judge said.

He said that on August 30 last year, Tawhai was granted release to work. It did not mean parole but was a scheme where suitable prisoners could work outside prison. Conditions were strict and involved his return to jail each day. In jail he met a woman through an associate and formed a relationship. While he was out at work she picked him up and drove to Riccarton Racecourse, where they had sex in the back of her vehicle. Later, he told her he had been released from jail and stayed the night at her home.

She found out the truth, became angry and said Tawhai should give himself up. Tawhai agreed to return to jail and they drove off in her car. Then he said: "Keep driving, bitch, I'm not going back in there." They ended up in Greymouth, where the car got stuck on the beach and the victim was threatened and sexually violated. She was able to call 111 on a cellphone, but could not give the location. She was punched and kicked when she wanted to go to the toilet. The victim was told she would be a hostage, the judge said.

Salvation came after a driver was stopped to free their vehicle, and she was able to signal for help. The driver left to get a towrope, but instead called police. When they arrived Tawhai resisted arrest and head-butted one officer. He said he would "deal to them" later. Tawhai claimed to still love the victim and did not want to lose her, but he had a history of violence against women, the judge said. The victim suffered significant harm.

There was an element of cruelty, and the courts needed to show a stern approach to sexual offending. There were no mitigating factors other than pleas of guilty, but Tawhai would get significant credit from a starting point of 12 years jail because it spared the victim the ordeal of a trial, the judge said.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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