A second charge has been laid against a 20-year-old
Invercargill man alleged to have sexually assaulted an
8-year-old girl in the sand dunes of Invercargill's Oreti
Beach earlier this month.
The man, already charged with indecent assault, has also been
charged with sexually violating the girl.
He did not plead to either charge when he appeared before
Judge Michael Turner in the Invercargill District Court
today.
His assigned counsel, Simon Claver, asked for continuation of
remand in custody to Friday, and continuation of name
suppression.
Mr Claver said the new charge "put the case out his legal aid
range'' and he was arranging new representation for the man.
"Intimidatory measures'' had already been made against his
partner and further suppression would allow matters to die
down, he said.
Judge Turner said name suppression was supposed to lapse
today unless detailed submissions were filed about why it
should continue.
Mr Claver said it was not possible for him to file detailed
submissions and he would ask the new counsel to prepare them.
Name suppression was to protect the safety of his client's
partner and children, he said.
The man was remanded in custody until Friday and continued
name supression was granted.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.