Sikh man in New Zealand held guilty of domestic violence, rape

A Sikh man in New Zealand has been found guilty of domestic violence and rape by a court.

The man, from Hastings in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island, was held guilty by a jury at the Napier district court Wednesday on multiple counts of rape, assault and threatening to kill his wife in 2012, the Hawke's Bay Today reported Thursday.

He cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the victim.

The jury spent more than four hours deliberating Tuesday and Wednesday before returning guilty verdicts on eight charges and a not guilty verdict on one charge.

The court heard that the man kept a 45-cm long knife by their bed to intimidate and force his wife into having sex.

He also physically abused and threatened to kill her, the court heard.

His wife came to New Zealand from India after marrying the man in an arranged Sikh marriage.

Police detective Rob Parker said the case showed that domestic violence and abuse "exists in all facets of society, it doesn't matter the culture or the demographic".

"In this instance, this complainant has been particularly brave. She had no one to turn to. Not only was she battling the cultural aspect, but she was in a foreign country," he added.

The court heard that when police attended a domestic violence incident at the couple's home on Boxing Day, 2012, the woman told them she was being raped and also beaten.

Crown prosecutor Steve Manning said officers discovered the "terrified, frightened woman" hiding behind a car on the driveway while her drunk husband was inside house watching television.

She had bruised arms, which a doctor said was consistent with being grabbed.

Police praised the woman, who told police of her husband's recurring sexual attacks and beatings, for her courage.