Despite the routine ordeals his victim underwent, she sat in the public gallery in his support, also crying through the hearing. The defendant, from south of Dunedin, maintained a not-guilty stance for months before admitting the allegations after a sentencing indication in September. The court heard every month for two years in the 1990s, the man would rape his wife. Mr More urged the judge to take into account the sex attacks occurred not long after rape within a marriage became a criminal offence. The defendant was not subject to the three-strikes regime because the sex offences happened before that legislation was introduced.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 29, 2018 15:33 UTC