Teens attempt brutal abortion
2004-05-27 14:55
Auckland - Three teenage rising rugby league stars were jailed on Thursday for trying to kill an unborn baby.
Shaun Williams-Metcalf, 16, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he took friends Geoffrey Ruaporo and Kyle Donovan to a park to kick his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend in the stomach in an effort to procure an abortion.
Ruaporo was sentenced to 18 months' jail, while Donovan, who tried to stop the attack, received a prison term of 15 months.
Judge Andrew Becroft called the trio's actions planned, callous and "extremely serious".
The trio had earlier pleaded guilty to attempting to procure an abortion, aggravated robbery and inflicting injury with intent.
The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was five-months pregnant when the boys attacked her. She now has a healthy five-month-old baby girl.
The teenagers were members of the New Zealand Warriors Development Squad.
The senior team plays in the scandal-tainted Australian National Rugby League competition, which has been hit recently with gang rape allegations against one of its top teams and claims of offensive behaviour by other players.
After the sentencing in the Manukau District Court, south of here, the New Zealand Warriors said the trio's contracts had been terminated.
Tragedy for all
The attack was "a tragedy for all involved", the club said, and efforts were being made to convey the club's concern and sympathy to the girl and her family.
The court heard the mother of the child had had a brief relationship with Williams-Metcalf.
On August 8 last year, the defendants went to a park where Williams-Metcalf had arranged to meet his ex-girlfriend to discuss the pregnancy.
When she arrived, she was dragged from her car, punched in the head and kicked in the stomach.
Donovan tried to stop the attack before the trio then ran away.
Prosecutor Kevin Glubb said it was lucky that the woman's daughter was healthy.
Outside court the woman and her parents said they were happy that the trio had been sentenced to prison and were glad the ordeal had ended.
- AFP