A mistrial has been declared in an alleged Lake Hāwea rape case being heard at the Invercargill District Court, Stuff has reported.

A 25-year-old man was facing charges of rape, two counts of sexual violation and male assaults female on December 28, 2018.

The man has interim name suppression and Judge Bernadette Farnan dismissed the jury on Monday morning (September 28) and suppressed the details relating to the mistrial.

The attack is alleged to have taken place shortly after the victim left the Lake Hāwea Hotel at 9.40pm on December 28, 2018, at a grassy bank near Capell Avenue. 

A large group of people had gathered at the Lake Hāwea Hotel for the Rhythm & Alps ‘warmup’ gig on December 28.

At the hearing, which began on September 23, a witness said the alleged victim was covered in bite marks and looked like someone had tried to rip her skin off, Stuff reported.

The witness saw the claimant at around 10.30pm when she returned to the campground.

“She was incoherently traumatised,” the witness said.

The man has denied the accusations. 

Mistrials are declared when a judge believes the integrity of the jury trial process has been compromised. It can happen for a wide range of reasons.

The hearing was due to last five days. 

PHOTO: Wanaka App