4 Aug 2010

Former Olympian found not guilty of rape

5:32 pm on 4 August 2010

A jury at the High Court in Auckland has found a former Olympian not guilty of nine charges, including charges of raping his wife and abduction.

The man, who has continued name suppression, faced 12 charges.

On Wednesday he was found not guilty unanimously on charges of injury with intent to injure, male assaults female, sexual violation by rape, abduction and unlawful sexual connection.

The jury also reached majority verdicts of not guilty on two charges of male assaults female, sexual violation by rape, injury with intent to injure, and assault with intent to injure.

The jury was unable to agree on three charges: man assaults female and two charges of sexual violation by rape.

The man has been remanded on bail until 18 August while the Crown considers whether to retry him on those charges.