28 Jul 2011

Man appears in court on child abuse charges

9:03 am on 28 July 2011

A man accused of involvement in the serious abuse of a group of children in Porirua has appeared in the Wellington District Court.

Raymond Tusa, 39, was in court on Wednesday on five charges including two of sexually violating a girl under 12.

He is also accused of tying up eight children, all of whom were under 16 years of age, and forcing them to eat insects.

Five other people have been charged in connection with the cases.

Collectively, they face at least 80 charges, including the rape and sexual violation of children, child cruelty, and assault.

Mr Tusa and the co-accused will all reappear in court on 10 August.