Urgent update on trial

A Whangārei dairy farmer stands trial on 38 sexual assault charges, including rape and bestiality, with allegations spanning more than two decades.

New Zealand Dairy Farmer Faces 38 Charges for Rape Bestiality and Abusive Acts

A dairy farmer in Whangārei, New Zealand, faces 38 charges of sexual assault, including 15 counts of rape, one count of bestiality involving cows, and one of performing indecent acts on calves. The allegations concern both his wife and his underage stepdaughter, stretching over more than 20 years. The stepdaughter says the abuse began before she was 10 and continued for about a decade, with prosecutors noting nearly 300 rapes. The wife is described as having been informed of the farmer’s sex with cows and as having witnessed calves performing acts on him during calving season. The defendant, whose name is not released to protect accusers, denies wrongdoing toward his wife and contends the stepdaughter’s relationship was consensual and occurred when she was older than 16; his lawyer said the bestiality claims are unsupported. The trial is slated to last three weeks.

The case highlights how abuse can be hidden within a family and in rural life, challenging the justice system to separate fact from rumor. It also raises questions about safeguarding in farming communities and how witnesses are protected when the acts involve both people and animals. If proven, the charges could intensify debates about child protection laws and the limits of consent in power-imbalanced relationships. The defense emphasis on consent reflects broader legal questions about how juries weigh intent, coercion, and social norms when abuse spans decades.

Highlights

The verdict will shape how rural communities discuss abuse and accountability