Christchurch (New Zealand), Nov.20 :Two Non-Resident Indian chefs are on trial in Christchurch, New Zealand, for the rape of a 17-year-old schoolgirl who had run away from home.

Their retrial opened in the Christchurch District Court today.

According to stuff.co.nz, Judge Graeme Noble told the jury that the retrial of 41-year-old Kirti Ram and 31-year-old Manish Kumar Tyagi – both chefs at the Two Fat Indians Restaurant in Christchurch – had been ordered for technical reasons.

The retrial is expected to last up to two weeks.

Kirti and Manish both deny charges of indecent assault, two of sexual violation, three of rape, and two of attempted sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.

Crown prosecutor Kerryn Beaton said the crown's case was that the two men took advantage of a girl who had run away from home and trusted them to help her. But when they took her back to the restaurant she was subjected to a prolonged sexual attack.

She believed the defence would suggest that the girl was a prostitute and had consented to the acts complained of.

But she said the girl was crying, fighting, and distressed during the assault and did not consent, and was not doing it for mone.

The crown will summon about 20 witnesses during the retrial. (ANI)