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Allegations
of Abuse in NZ |
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Judith
Garrett has worked hard at restoring some balance to her life since she was
allegedly raped by an off-duty officer at the Kaitaia police station in 1988.
She hopes that her recent return to the Far North, which she continues to
regard as home, from Otago, will take her a long way towards completing that
process, although her return has coincided with the inclusion of her case in
a commission of inquiry, sparked by the alleged rape of a teenager by three
police officers in Rotorua in 1986. Ms
Garrett said last week that she was extremely gratified that her experience
would be part of the enquiry, although she had no intention of further
pursuing criminal charges against the officer who she claimed raped her, and
would be happy simply to allow the inquiry to take its course. In any event
she doubted that she could stop it, particularly given Prime Minister Helen
Clark’s response to her claims. (Ms Clark was quoted last week as saying that
the file had made her hair stand on end, and raised further questions regarding
the police culture. She was also reported as saying that Ms Garrett’s
experience had been the final straw in terms of launching an inquiry). “It’s
out of my hands really, and I’m glad about that,” Ms Garrett said. “Maybe
justice will finally be done, although nothing that happens now can give me
back the last 16 years of my life.” |
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