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Allegations of Abuse
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The former policeman cleared of
historic rape charges last night, could face a legal bill of more than
$100,000, while his lawyer is raising issues of political involvement. Tim Ogle, 44, came back from
Australia to face the charges after a Far North woman, now 63, said he had
handcuffed her and raped her in a Northland police station in 1988. Last night an Auckland District
Court jury took five hours to return not guilty verdicts on seven charges,
including four of sexual violation and rape. Name suppression continued for the
woman after the verdict but Ogle asked the court to lift the order suppressing
his name. Today Ogle's lawyer Gary Gotlieb
said the case should never have gone ahead and Ogle had had to sell his house
to pay his legal costs. He said the costs included the
private investigator they needed to find witnesses for the trial. Mr Gotlieb also said the case was
"too political" after Prime Minister Helen Clark referred the case
to the inquiry into police conduct. He said the case was investigated
in 1988 and it was found there was no case to answer. The woman who claimed she was raped
also issued civil proceedings against the Attorney General for not properly
investigating it. "That was dismissed," Mr
Gottlieb said. He said had the Prime Minister not
personally referred it to the commission of inquiry, the police would
probably not have re-opened the case. A spokeswoman for Helen Clark said
the Prime Minister was en route to London and could not be immediately
contacted. She arrives in Britain late tonight. Previously Helen Clark had said it
was entirely a matter for police whether they seek to prosecute, the
spokeswoman said. Mr Gottlieb said there was a huge
bill for private investigators and Ogle had to sell his house to met his
costs. "If we hadn't done what we
did and had treated it like an ordinary trial, he would have been rolled. "This is the trouble with
anyone. If the state brings its forces against you, it is so bloody hard to
stand up to it," Mr Gotlieb said. Ogle admitted he had sex with the
woman but said she had consented. After the verdict, Ogle said the
charges had haunted him for 16 years. "I've always said I never
raped her and the jury showed that that is the case," he said outside
the Auckland District Court. "This has been very hard on
my wife, my children and my 82-year-old mother. It's had a terrible impact on
all of us but justice has been done. "I'm just looking forward to
spending some time with my wife." |
