Post led to threats for victim

The daughter of a Black Power president recently jailed for rape has wound up in court herself after naming her dad’s victim on social media.

On Thursday, Gabrial Tiana-Lee Pepe Weston appeared before Judge Chris Sygrove at New Plymouth District Court where she faced a single charge of breaching a court suppression order.

Gabrial pleaded guilty to revealing the victim’s identity on Facebook on June 14, hours after her dad, Dennis Craig Weston, was found guilty of rape and indecent assault.

The 25-year-old posted: ‘‘Here you go whanau the one that wished not to be named’’.

Underneath the post she shared a screenshot of the victim’s personal Facebook profile which showed her name and a photo of her with one of her young children.

As a complainant in a sexual matter the victim’s identity is automatically protected by law and their name, address and occupation cannot be published.

Dennis was found guilty of the May 2016 rape and indecent assault, following a four-day trial in the New Plymouth District Court.

He is the president of the Stratford chapter of Black Power and the victim was the long-term partner of one of his gang prospects.

Court documents show Gabrial made a number of posts which continued the following day and included live streams where she threatened and again named the victim.

According to the summary of facts, the post led to others posting comments including threats suggesting the victim ‘‘had better start digging her hole now’’.

The victim saw the posts on social media and contacted police.

Defence lawyer Susan Hurley asked Sygrove not to enter a conviction and for the matter to be adjourned as she would be seeking a discharge without conviction for her client.

‘‘As it would impact on my client’s future career prospects – she is in the education system,’’ she said.

Sygrove remanded Gabrial to reappear on August 8.