At the time she helped police prepare a computer sketch of her attacker, whom she had seen briefly. In 1997 a police officer reviewing unsolved rape cases saw a resemblance between the sketch and a photograph of Panapa. Panapa's DNA was linked to samples taken from the woman's underpants. One of the grounds for the appeal was that the DNA testing process was flawed and samples had seemingly been lost in the laboratory. The Court of Appeal said it was concerned samples were misplaced, but the issue had been before the jury that convicted Panapa and did not in itself make his conviction unsafe.

At his trial Panapa said the woman had been to a barbecue at his house and they hadhad consensual intercourse. The woman denied meeting Panapa before he abducted her. The Court of Appeal said the jury was entitled to believe the woman. Three lawyers represented Panapa on the rape charge but one withdrew during his trial, forcing an adjournment. Panapa said a newspaper headline that said "Accused dumps lawyer" could have prejudiced the jury, and the judge should have cautioned the jury. The Court of Appeal said that was not necessary.