escalating violence in our community Become a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust

Mouseover links for full page descriptions

Offender Databases Craig Saunokonoko

Craig Paulo Saunokonoko

Alias

.

Offences

Rape and indecent assault of a Timaru girl for two years from 1998, when she was 12 years old

Victims

.

Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1976

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to eight years in March 2008
Unsuccessfully appealed the conviction in September 2008

Background
From the Christchurch Press 27th February 2008
A Dunedin computer consultant who began indecently assaulting a young girl in Otago soon after the death of the girl's father has been convicted on three sex counts. Craig Paulo Saunokonoko, 32, was found guilty by a jury in the Timaru District Court late on Monday night on one representative count of indecency, and two counts of rape. He was found not guilty on another count of raping the same girl.

The offences took place between 1998 and 2000, and began soon after the death of the victim's father. She was 12 or over at the time. Saunokonoko denied the counts but through counsel David Robinson admitted inappropriate contact with the girl. He denied there was ever full intercourse. Tim Gresson, summing up for the Crown, said Saunokonoko's manipulation of the victim was insidious. The accused made it appear he was grieving with the family but he was grooming the victim for his own sexual satisfaction. Saunokonoko was 10 or 11 years older than the victim, who still had emotional scarring.

Gresson said Saunokonoko was trusted by the family. "She was a child dealing with adult issues - unwanted sexual attention," he said. He said the accused bought the victim gifts and exploited a vulnerable family situation. Robinson said Saunokonoko admitted kissing the girl and that he may have touched her breast, but that was all. He said if he was going to be untruthful, he would have said nothing had happened. Saunokonoko was remanded in custody until Friday by Judge Gary McAskill for a sentencing date to be fixed.

---

Corrections and Additional Information
We endeavour to make this database as accurate as possible, but we are at the mercy of whatever information we can find in various online and offline archives. We rely on the public - that is, people like you - to fill in the gaps that we cannot. If you wish to submit additional information or a correction to this file CLICK HERE . Privacy: Trust policy is that all sources are treated as strictly confidential unless we are explicitly told otherwise. If you wish to see a file removed from this database certain conditions must be met by the offender set out HERE Note that this does NOT apply for those that are the primary offender in a murder, rape, or any sexual offending involving minors. We do not enter into correspondence regarding the guilt/innocence of offenders. Such correspondence is not responded to, especially if the offender concerned has a number of prior convictions

Back to Top