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Offender Databases Elliot Edwards

Elliot Iapeta Patene Edwards

Alias

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Offences

Rape of and causing grevious bodily harm to a German tourist in Rotorua in April 1997
Assaulted another inmate, arson of police cells

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1971

Current Location

Porirua MH unit

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to fourteen years in September 1997
Later reduced to twelve years upon appeal

Background
The Press, Christchurch, September 6th 1997
JUSTICE MORRIS ordered a man to stop smiling in the High Court at Rotorua yesterday when he sentenced him to 14 years' jail for raping a German tourist. The judge said it was the worst rape case he had ever heard.

Elliot Iapeta Patene Edwards, 26, a sickness beneficiary, of Rotorua, was charged with sexual violation by rape and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in Rotorua on April 24 this year. Justice Morris sentenced Edwards to 14 years' jail for sexual violation by rape and six years for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Defence counsel Harry Edward said Edwards should be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years' jail. The rape was a sickening act and there were no mitigating factors, he said. Mr Edward wanted to be sure that Edwards had, in fact, committed the crime given his condition. He said Edwards made a personal and frank admission to police almost immediately after he raped the tourist. Edwards suffered from a mental condition called bi-polar disorder which made him suffer grandiose physical and sexual illusions. He had been admitted to hospital for treatment, which could be done with medication, Mr Edward said.

Justice Morris said it was a shocking rape and a horrifying experience for the tourist. It was a sickening act that could not be explained. Edwards knew he had done something wrong because he tried to hide in bushes after the rape. The victim was a German tourist. On April 24 her companion was ill so she went for a walk alone through Rotorua's Kuirau Park where Edwards accosted her. Edwards approached the woman and she said she wanted nothing to do with him. Fifteen minutes later Edwards returned to her and struck her down without warning or mercy,

Justice Morris said. Edwards then smashed the woman's face, fracturing her eye socket and leaving her unconscious. He then raped her. Justice Morris took into account Edwards's early plea of guilty and frank admission. "But there was no way you could have defended this," he said. Subsequently Edwards appeared in Rotorua District Court on charges of assaulting a prisoner in Wanganui Prison on January 5 this year and arson at the Rotorua Police Station cells on May 14.

Judge David Wilson sentenced Edwards to 18 months' imprisonment on the arson charge and 12 months' imprisonment on the assault charge. They are to be served concurrently with the rape sentence.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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