20 Feb 2017

Professional cricketer on trial for rape

5:37 pm on 20 February 2017

A professional cricketer has gone on trial in the Hamilton District Court charged with rape.

Scott Kuggeleijn

Scott Kuggeleijn Photo: Photosport

Scott Kuggeleijn, 25, is accused of sexually violating a 21-year-old woman.

Mr Kuggeleijn, plays for the Northern Knights team, which is based in Hamilton.

He has pleaded not guilty to sexual violation by rape in May 2015. The case is being heard by a jury of six men and six women.

The woman, who can't be named, met the cricketer at a party and the two ended up back at her flat later in the evening.

She told the court she was intoxicated.

The two kissed and fondled and when the defendant asked for sex the woman said no, and after a while they fell asleep.

She told the jury that on waking the next morning, the accused tried to initiate sex again and ended up raping her.

The woman described the events as an out-of-body experience and one that left her upset and crying all of the next day.

The defence has argued Mr Kuggeleijn believed there was consent and had reasonable grounds to think so.