The Star: May 04, 2023

The Star Thursday May 4 2023
12
COURT
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Jailed for raping woman at 21st party
• By Emily Moorhouse
“BOYS LIKE you will not stop us
from standing tall and fighting
for what’s right.”
That is what a woman told the
man who raped and assaulted
her as he was sentenced to eight
years and 10 months’ in prison.
Benjovi Toa, 34, was jailed
for raping and sexually assaulting
the woman during a 21st
birthday party after he had lured
her into a dark, secluded area in
Kaiapoi.
Toa was earlier convicted of
two counts of rape and four of
unlawful sexual connection.
He had also entered late guilty
pleas to other unrelated charges,
including contravening a protection
order twice, two counts of
assault on a person in a family
relationship and one of threatening
behaviour relating to family
violence incidents.
Toa’s first victim told the court
she used to be strong and happy
and had goals in life, but Toa
took everything from her.
“I never thought I’d be part
of a statistic . . . I thought I’d be
able to fight back, but how was I
supposed to?”
In an emotional victim impact
statement, the woman who has
name suppression told the court
she was 21 at the time of the
assault. She remembered Toa
whispering to her, trying to get
her into his vehicle. Following
the assault, she lived in fear and
became paranoid. She kept a
knife under her pillow and a
metal pole nearby.
She stayed awake most nights
until she knew her father was
up as she only felt safe sleeping
when he was awake.
Every time a door opened or
someone was behind her, she
feared it was Toa. She would
walk to her car clutching a
pocket knife so hard it left a
mark on her hand. Her posttraumatic
stress disorder made it
impossible to return to work and
she had to go on a benefit. She
began losing weight because of
the stress.
She was admitted to hospital as
she became suicidal. The woman
said she was put on medication
that turned her into a zombie
just to get a few hours sleep.
She said the lengthy court
process almost made her give
up. But the pain, shame and fear
Toa made her feel meant she
“couldn’t give up this time”.
“The girl I once was is gone. I
fought so hard to find her, but it’s
like you took her . . . One thing
you can never take from me is
my resilience. You may have forgotten
what you did to me that
night – but I never will.”
Judge Stephen Bonnar commended
her bravery and courage,
apologising for the lengthy
court process. He acknowledged
nothing could change what happened,
but hoped Toa’s sentencing
could bring her some peace.
Toa continued to deny the
charges but was found guilty by
a jury in March. On July 3, 2020,
BEHIND
BARS:
Benjovi
Toa was
jailed
after he
led a
woman
to a
secluded
area and
raped
her
during
a 21st
birthday
party.
PHOTO:
GEORGE
HEARD
the victim went to a 21st party in
Kaiapoi and Toa, who was unknown
to the woman, was also
there. Toa and the victim drank
alcohol and, while they were
talking, she began to feel dizzy
and found it difficult to stand.
She leaned against Toa so
he could support her and he
wrapped his arms around her
and guided her away from the
party, toward the gate of the
property. Toa then led her to a
secluded area and removed the
Where to get help:
• If it’s an emergency and you
feel that you or someone else
is at risk, call 111. If you’ve ever
experienced sexual assault
or abuse and need to talk to
someone, contact Safe to Talk
confidentially, any time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email support@safetotalk.nz
• For more info or to web chat
visit safetotalk.nz
woman’s pants and underwear.
Toa raped the woman a second
time while she was pushed up
against a car.
The victim managed to send a
text to her ex-partner who contacted
someone at the party and
asked them to look for her.
At this time, she said Toa
pulled her into a bear hug, saying:
“Shh, I have got you.”
The person who had been
contacted found Toa and the
victim walking back to the
party. Toa had his hands on her
shoulders and she was crying
and shaking.
Bonnar said Toa showed no
remorse for his offending as he
continued to deny it.
“This was not her fault, this
was your fault,” he told Toa.
Bonnar acknowledged Toa’s
childhood and background but
said the offending was “grave
and serious”.
– NZ Herald
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