The Supreme Court granted a retrial to a man jailed for attempting to rape an Australian backpacker in Christchurch in 2007 because of leading questions asked of the complainant, a court decision says.
Maia Rongonui was been found guilty by a jury and jailed initially for four years. That sentence was increased to six years by the Court of Appeal.
In its decision released on Friday, the Supreme Court said the Crown Prosecutor was allowed to ask leading questions of the complainant during Mr Rongonui's trial and that was a seriously prejudicial departure from correct procedure.
A new trial has been ordered on the charges of sexual violation and assault with intent to commit rape.
