After a four-month investigation into an alleged rape, Wanaka police have decided not to prosecute any of the three suspects identified by the 21-year-old female complainant.
The complainant and the suspects were visitors to the town. Det Dave Evans has remained tight-lipped about the investigation since August 14, because of concerns about identifying the parties.
Several factors were weighed up in the decision not to prosecute, including the likelihood of a successful prosecution, he said.
The police were not in a position to charge anyone and he was not prepared to go into the "many and varied reasons" that was the case.
The decision was made after the file had been reviewed by a senior police officer.
"What I am telling the community is, there is no stranger here. We have a victim and three suspects known to her ... It is not as if the community is in fear," he said.
Det Evans said he had discussed the result with the victim and her support people.
"The victim understands where we are at, though I am not sure that makes it any easier for the victim," he said.
The complainant alleged on August 14 she was raped by the three men between 3am and 5am and she supplied the suspects' names to Wanaka police.
The men were interviewed by the police that same day but no arrests were made.
The police appealed for public help, seeking information from anyone near the Lake Wanaka Villas, on Cardrona Valley Rd and Orchard Rd.
