Murray Robertson admits sexual offending that sparked a police manhunt

A man who sparked a high-profile manhunt after sexually violating a teenager has admitted five charges on the day of trial.

Murray Robertson, 63, appeared in the Auckland District Court today before Judge Nevin Dawson.

He pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection on or about September 20, 2019.

He also admitted one charge of indecent assault.

Judge Dawson confirmed name suppression for Robertson lapsed today.

Robertson had met the teenage victim in the New World car park in Mt Roskill but the sexual offending happened elsewhere.

The incident was first reported to police that evening, just hours after the 17-year-old was attacked.

Police appealed to the public for information several days later when seeking to arrest Robertson.

Over the weekend officers had reviewed CCTV footage and spoken to witnesses.

Judge Dawson said Robertson was now subject to the three strikes law and accepted the Crown’s application to move the sentencing to the jurisdiction of the High Court.

During the search for Robertson, Detective Inspector Scott Beard had said police were treating the case as “extremely serious” and called him “dangerous”.

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