‘When will it all end’
Victims' anguish as convicted rapist on the run in Australia
Victims of a convicted rapist on the run in Australia will be wondering “when will it all end” if he is a “no-show” at his sentencing next week, their supporter Louise Nicholas says.
Lee Josey was on bail when he skipped the country in November. The 44-year-old convicted of raping two teenage girls is due for sentencing in Rotorua District Court on Monday, but police believe he is still overseas.
Josey, a former truck driver based in the Bay of Plenty, was charged in 2020 and denied nine counts of sexual offending, but Covid-19 pandemic impacts delayed his trial to January 22 this year.
In October last year, he successfully applied for a passport and left New Zealand for Australia the next month.
When he then failed to show up for his trial, a judge took the unusual step of allowing it to go ahead in Josey’s absence.
The jury found him guilty and he was convicted on all nine sexual offending charges he faced relating to two victims on different occasions.
A police spokesperson confirmed this week a warrant for his arrest remained active and it was understood he was still in Australia.
Police had said previously they were working with Australian authorities to extradite him to New Zealand.
If found, he would be arrested when he returned to New Zealand.
Victims’ rights campaigner Louise Nicholas speaks out
Nicholas, a Rotorua woman who works to support victims of sexual abuse, said she supported the two women who gave evidence during Josey’s trial in January.
Nicholas told the Rotorua Daily Post it would be sad for all those involved if Josey was not found and brought to justice.
“They have spoken their truth and guilty verdicts were returned on all charges, so for them, they will be wondering, ‘When will it all end?’
“Now he’s run off to Australia and might be a no-show, and that’s very hard for them, very hard.”
Nicholas said Josey had been found guilty on serious charges multiple rapes of two women. One charge of rape carried a maximum jail term of 20 years.
She said she hoped for the sake of the victims all was being done to bring him back to court on Monday.
“We have sentencing next week and we still don’t have the offender.”
What Lee Josey did
Josey was convicted of rape, two counts of indecent assault and committing an indecent act against one victim, as well as four counts of rape and one of committing sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection against the other victim.
Court documents supplied to the Rotorua Daily Post showed Josey had been drinking at a property and asked the victim to go for a walk. He put his arms around her in a hug and started to kiss her. She told him to stop but he continued and raped her.
She eventually managed to get free and went back to the property.
A few months later, he saw the teen again and indecently assaulted