Otago Daily Times
October 26, 2000

Could not retract false complaint, woman claims
NZPA

Wellington: A man who won a controversial payout from the Government for his treatment in Mangaroa Prison has spent seven weeks in jail for a crime he did not commit.

But his accuser says she attempted to retract her claims the day after making them.

Aileen Rona Nadene Edmonds (30), unemployed, of Wainuiomata, pleaded guilty yesterday to making a false complaint to Wellington police on August 27.

She claimed her boyfriend, Mongrel Mob member Michael Dean Ratima, had viciously attacked her.

She was sentenced to 200 hours' community service for a false complaint that cost Ratima seven weeks' freedom. Taxpayers may face a further payout as Ratima's lawyer considers whether to sue police.

Police prosecutor Graeme Burr told Wellington District Court Edmonds claimed Ratima hit her on her back with a wok three times, cut her finger with a knife, held the knife to her throat, kicked her in the head and attempted to smother her with a pillow.

"She also showed several cuts and bruises she had received in the alleged attack."

Ratima (29), unemployed, was charged with wounding with intent to injure, two counts of assault with a weapon, assaulting a female and breach of a protection order, Mr Burr said.

He was held in Rimutaka Prison on remand before the charges were withdrawn on October 13.

Mr Burr said Edmonds had been actively avoiding police.

That was disputed in court yesterday when defence lawyer Brendan McDonnell said Edmonds had attempted to withdraw her false claims on a number of occasions but police had believed she was being pressured by Ratima.

Outside the court, Edmonds said she was angry that Ratima, the father of two of her three children, had been seeing another woman and was jealous.

The injuries were caused during a fight with the other woman, she said.

The next day, and on at least three other occasions, she told police she had lied but they were not interested because "they had one less Mongrel Mob member on the street to worry about".

Her relationship with Ratima was over and she was looking forward to getting her life back on track.

She said she had not been pressured by gang members and expected no reprisals.

In court, Mr Burr said Edmonds made the claims because she thought Ratima was going to leave her.

In an unusual move - immediately rejected by Judge Craig Thompson - Mr Burr said police were seeking reparation from Edmonds for the $2870 spent during a 41-hour police investigation involving up to five staff.

In September, four former Mangaroa prison inmates, including Ratima, were awarded an undisclosed sum and an apology from the Crown amid claims of torture and abuse at the hands of prison guards during incidents in 1991 and 1993.

Ratima's lawyer, Tony Ellis, said he would be discussing the latest developments with Ratima with an eye to suing police.

Acting Wellington Police District Commander Norm Cook said he had not been briefed and could not comment.