Professional cricketer Scott Kuggeleijn has been found not guilty of rape.
Scott Kuggeleijn Photo: Photosport
The 25-year-old had pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual violation by rape in May 2015. The case was heard in the Hamilton District Court by a jury of six men and six women.
The defence had said Mr Kuggeleijn believed there was consent and had reasonable grounds to think so.
The Crown had argued the 21-year-old woman, who cannot be named, had no motive to lie about what happened.
The jury heard from the defendant, who said she met the cricketer at a party and the two ended up back at her flat. She said she was intoxicated. The woman told the court the defendant asked for sex and she said no, but on waking next morning, the accused tried to initiate sex again and ended up raping her.
The cricketer plays for the Northern Knights team, based in Hamilton.
In November he ruled himself out of the New Zealand A side to play Pakistan that month due to the impending trial.