A Christchurch man has been sentenced to 23 years imprisonment for a raft of sexual offending against multiple women.
Warning: This story contains details some readers might find disturbing. Helplines are provided at the end of the article.
John Hope Muchirahondo was found guilty in September of 11 charges of rape and six of sexual violation against nine women.
He was found not guilty on eight charges of sexual offending and the jury couldn’t reach a verdict on five others.
The trial went for almost 10 weeks.
He must serve at least 10 years before being eligible for parole and avoided an indefinite sentence of preventive detention “by a fine margin”.
Today in addressing Justice Lisa Preston in the High Court in Christchurch, the Crown sought a sentence of preventive detention.
“Mr Muchirahondo is an individual that the community requires protection from,” Claire Boshier said.
She pointed to the wide range of victims and the impact of his crimes.
“We’ve seen more than anything the devastating effect of sexual violence on vulnerable females,” she said.
Boshier submitted that Muchirahondo took advantage of victims in any number of situations presented to him.
“It did not matter if a female was in her own home, in a car, in his home, he plied some of the women with alcohol and took advantage of their intoxication, he created other situations in which he was able to get significantly vulnerable women alone so he could offend against them… he sexually violated women in places where they were entitled to feel safe,” she said.
Defence lawyer Anselm Williams began his submission to Justice Preston by saying he was making it clear that Muchirahondo continued to deny the offending, but accepts he has to be sentenced today based on the jury’s verdict.
He said that a sentence of preventive detention wasn’t available or appropriate, but his client was aware the term would be lengthy.
Justice Preston outlined how Muchirohondo’s offending began in 2011 when he was in his mid-20s – the victim a vulnerable young woman – and then attacked two other women between 2013 and 2018.
“Latterly you offended repeatedly with an increasing disregard for consent, then from 2019 onwards your offending continued and increased in frequency. During this latter period police spoke to you on more than one occasion about sexual allegations against you, yet you committed multiple further rapes and sexual violations of a further six women across these next three years,” Justice Preston said.
‘He just took what he wanted’
Earlier in proceedings six victim impact statements were read.
Many of the women spoke about struggling to trust men now.
“Never in my life want to feel that way again… have trouble trusting my gut instincts, have no idea how I would trust them and or myself,” one said.
“I do not trust men easily now and that’s something I will struggle with for a long time,” said another.
“In my own house in my own bed where I was meant to be safe, he just took what he wanted,” said a third.
“Your offending displayed a striking sense of entitlement and near total disregard for a woman’s right not to consent,” Justice Preston also said.
Another victim recalled the court experience being retraumatising.
“Not only did you take everything from me, attack me in court and make me sit through a video and relive the night all over again, and reopen all the scars that I have worked so hard to repair.”
Justice Preston told Muchirohondo that the verdicts gave “a very clear message nothing these women did justified your offending”.
“They should carry no blame, no shame, in respect of your actions towards them.”
‘It took enormous strength, courage, and composure’
Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said she was pleased justice had been done for his victims.
“It took enormous strength, courage, and composure to tell your accounts in court where your accuracy, honesty and credibility were challenged,” she said.
“I hope you feel validated. We believe you, we have always believed you, this was never your fault and you are not alone.
“Our complainants have taken another step in paving the way for others to come forward, to have a voice and to not be silenced or shamed.
“Your bravery, the strength of your accounts and your telling of the impact of this offending has helped inform the Judge’s sentence today and you have contributed to the future safety of many women.”
