21 Jun 2013

Rape accused groomed victim, jury told

1:15 pm on 21 June 2013

The Crown has summed up its case at a rape trial, telling the jury the accused groomed his victim with money and cannabis and ingratiated himself with her before putting his plan in place.

Michael Shane Lihou, 44, is on trial in the Wellington High Court on eight charges, including abduction and threatening to kill.

The complainant, who was 17 at the time, says Mr Lihou raped her six times and held her against her will before taking her into the Wairarapa countryside last year.

He has previous convictions for rape and abduction, which the jury has been allowed to know about in this case.

Prosecutor Ian Murray told the jury on Thursday that once the accused realised the enormity of what he had done, he reverted to past form and made his victim go on the run with him.

Mr Murray said Mr Lihou made out he was the victim when he gave evidence on Wednesday of a troubled upbringing that included abuse while in state care.

The defence will sum up on Friday.