Sex abuse accuser rejects extortion claim

A woman who says she was sexually abused by Arthur Allan Thomas has denies threatening to take a complaint to the police if he failed to pay her money.

Thomas, now aged 83, is on trial at the Manukau District Court, on four historical charges of indecent assault and one of rape. He denies all the charges, which relate to two women.

Thomas was twice wrongfully convicted for the 1970 murders of Jeannette and Harvey Crewe.

After nine years in prison and following a royal commission of inquiry, Thomas was awarded almost a million dollars in compensation. His lawyer, Marie Dyhrberg QC, has said the defence case is that the complaints are motivated by a desire to get at Thomas’ money.

The Crown says Thomas abused the women when they were girls and on some occasions other people were present.

One complainant told the closed court yesterday that Thomas touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions. She said he also forced her to touch him. The woman said on two occasions, Thomas made her take part in sexualised behaviour with others. ‘‘He was the one who got us into the room. He was the one that showed us lollies. He said: ‘Do what I tell you to do and I’ll give you lollies’.’’ She said that later in life she dealt with the alleged abuse by drinking.

‘‘I thought the nine years [Thomas spent in jail], that was his punishment for what he did to us. I don’t believe he ever murdered the Crewes but I don’t believe he should have got compensation.’’ She said that years later she took part in a meeting with Thomas’ lawyers to seek an apology. ‘‘They tried to make us out to be extortionists ... We never mentioned money.’’

Under cross-examination from Dyhrberg, the woman confirmed the meeting was chaired by former prime minister David Lange and Thomas had lawyers present.

She said she only attended the meeting in order to get an apology but described it as a ‘‘set-up’’.

Dyhrberg read from a letter from Thomas’ lawyers in which they alleged she may have been involved in extortion. The woman replied: ‘‘It is not true’’.

The trial, before Judge John Bergseng and a jury, has been set down for two weeks.