League player sent to trial in sex case
15.08.2001
Canterbury Bulldogs rugby league player Willie Talau was yesterday committed for trial on sex charges. The offences are said to have taken place 10 years ago when he was 15 and his alleged victim 13. Sydney-based Talau, 25, is charged with twice indecently assaulting the girl in New Plymouth and sexually violating her by having unlawful sexual connection with her between September 1 and September 30, 1991. He was sent for trial by Judge Ray Kean after a depositions hearing in the Wellington District Court. The prosecutor, Sergeant Bruce Bamford, alleged that the incident happened one evening outside the pair's workplace. He said Talau came up behind the girl, pinned her to a wall and felt her breasts and thighs. She ran away but Talau followed her, pushed her into a bush and started to take his pants down, Sergeant Bamford said. It is alleged that the girl said: "I don't like this," and Talau replied: "Oh, you'll like it." Mr Bamford said the girl got free and eventually ran to a nearby field. Talau chased her, tackled her and pinned her to the ground, before putting his hands underneath her clothing, giving her love bites on her neck and sexually assaulting her while she cried, Sergeant Bamford said. Talau suddenly jumped up and ran off when somebody arrived nearby. Defence counsel Donald Stevens said he intended to apply for a stay of prosecution, which was why he cross-examined police witness Detective Constable Karin Isaacson at length. Under cross-examination, Constable Isaacson confirmed that the decision to charge Talau was made before he was interviewed last April. The decision was made on the basis of the complaint, supporting evidence from two witnesses and a discussion with the girl's brother. Dr Stevens repeatedly asked for information from Constable Isaacson's notebooks, which she had not brought to the hearing. She said the relevant information had been included in job sheets supplied to the defence. Talau will appear in the High Court at Wellington on September 24 for a jury trial callover. His bail was continued. - NZPA
