The parents of the 5-year-old victim of a sex attack at a Turangi caravan park have thanked New Zealanders for their support during the ordeal.
The family issued a statement today after the sentencing of the girl's attacker, Raurangi Marino, 16, at Rotorua District Court today.
Marino was sent to prison for 10 years after earlier pleading guilty in Rotorua District Court to charges of burglary, sexual violation by rape and causing grievous bodily harm.
The family, who watched the sentencing via videolink, said it was pleased the court process was over.
"We are relieved a part of this nightmare is finished; even if it is still just a part.
"We would like to thank the court, the police and the people of New Zealand. It has been a very emotional evening for us.''
The attack on the girl, who was holidaying with her family from Europe, took place on December 21 as she was sleeping in a caravan beside her younger brother.
The court was told Marino came from a troubled, violent background and dysfunctional family, and was drunk at the time of the attack and could recall little of it.
He had been bullied, abused, attempted suicide and began taking drugs and alcohol from an early age, the court was told.
The families of both of his parents had been involved in gangs.
But the defence ruled out that attack was gang-motivated, and said Marino had been drinking over 8-10 hours at an unsupervised party.
The girl's family was flooded with messages of support and more than $62,000 in donations from around the country following news of the attack.
Earlier this month, the family said they bore no grudge against New Zealand, and announced they had donated 20,000 toward four organisations.
Along with $5000 to benefit a new playground in Turangi, the money will help buy paediatric surgical instruments and items for Waikato Hospital's Waikids Ward 26, support agency ECPAT Child Alert NZ Ltd and Victim Support Hamilton.
- APNZ/Herald Online
