Net date brings rape charge

A woman who was "looking for a bed buddy" on the internet instead found a man now accused in the Palmerston North District Court of raping her. The 27-year-old woman met the Wellington man on NZDating.com at the beginning of June last year. They arranged to meet on June 9 at her Palmerston North home but the date resulted in an accusation of rape and the man's appearance in front of a jury yesterday. Wearing black trousers, a black woollen jumper and a gold wedding band, the man pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and another of sexual violation. The man's name and occupation are suppressed. A formal application by the Manawatu Standard to have the suppression order lifted was declined by Judge Nevin Dawson.

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