More charges laid against rape accused

A man charged with raping a 16-year-old girl last weekend faced three more charges in Christchurch District Court today.

Gary Shane Ian Nicholas, 28, unemployed, was arrested last Sunday after police alleged he approached the girl as she walked along New Brighton Rd with her boyfriend.

Police allege Nicholas threatened the boy, who ran off to call police, then took the girl to a grass verge and raped her.

During a brief appearance in court today, Nicholas faced further charges of unlawful sexual connection, assault with intent to commit sexual violation and threatening to kill.

Lawyer Tony Garrett asked Judge Jane Farish for a remand to a date for a bail hearing. No pleas were entered.

Nicholas, a tall thin man with dark hair, was remanded in custody by consent to June 12.

When Nicholas first appeared on Tuesday, rival families and supporters came close to a clash in the court's public seating area, prompting extra security guards and police to be positioned there today.

But the short remand hearing went undisturbed.

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