Crown to appeal teen rapist’s sentence

• Published date: 30 September 2022
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)

Meyer was sentenced to nine months’ home detention after he was convicted in the Tauranga District Court of raping four girls and sexually violating another, all of whom were aged 15 at the time of the assaults

The sentence sparked protests across the country.

Tauranga Crown solicitor Anna Pollett confirmed the appeal had been filed.

Ms Pollett initially defended the sentence, explaining that a ‘‘rehabilitative approach is to protect the community in the long term from re-offending’’.

The appeal comes just 10 days after a judge in the Tauranga District Court declined an application by the Corrections Department to block internet access for Meyer.

Corrections deputy northern region commissioner Ali Rei...