Solomon Islands police officer found not guilty of raping woman in Cairns

A jury has returned a not guilty verdict in the case of a Solomons Island police officer accused of raping a woman in a Cairns hotel room.

A Solomon Islands police officer has been found not guilty of rape after a week-long trial in Cairns.

David Davies Ariki, 38, pleaded not guilty in the Cairns District Court to one count of rape in April 2022 in a Cairns hotel while the maritime unit, in which he worked, was docked in Cairns.

The jury deliberated for approximately an hour on Friday afternoon before returning the not guilty verdict.

During the trial, defence barrister James Sheridan told the court the issue in dispute was consent.

Prosecutor Tegan Grasso told the court during the trial that Mr Ariki and the woman had been drinking alcohol and were ‘both quite intoxicated’ in the 24 hours leading up to the incident. She said there was no dispute the pair had sex that day.

A jury deliberated for around one hour before finding David Davies Ariki, 38, not guilty of rape. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Grasso said Mr Ariki was part of an 18-man crew from the Solomon Islands Police Maritime Unit that had docked in Cairns, and checked into a hotel only the day before, and that the woman knew some of the officers, which is how she came to be socialising with the officers on the evening.

The court was told the woman “violently confronted” Mr Ariki after the alleged incident and called police.

In an interview with police after the incident, Ariki said he had sought the woman’s consent and that she had given her consent.

Mr Ariki did not give or call evidence.

During his summing up, Mr Sheridan highlighted evidence from witnesses who had been drinking in the group that Mr Ariki and the woman had been affectionate during the evening – kissing and hugging.

He also highlighted that the woman had many gaps in her memory around what had happened at the time of the alleged incident.

Originally published as Solomon Islands police officer found not guilty of raping woman in Cairns