|
|
Allegations of Sexual
Abuse in NZ |
|
A woman has been charged with
making a false rape complaint against champion jockey Michael Walker, the
former "wild boy" of New Zealand racing. The Napier woman, 21, is believed
to be known to Walker, 22. Detective Daryl Moore of Napier
CIB said the woman had been charged with making a false complaint about an
incident on Friday morning. She has been bailed and will
appear in the Hastings District Court on Wednesday. Asked whether police would be
questioning Walker, Moore said they were "satisfied with the
evidence" they had received. Walker, 22, who was riding in
Hastings yesterday, refused to comment. "I don't want to talk about
anything except my racing," he said. "I have a fiancee and a
six-month-old baby and I just don't need this sort of thing." The Sunday Star-Times understands
Walker was one of a group of young men who were drinking at Turk's Bar and
Casino in Havelock North on Thursday night. Eyewitnesses said they appeared
extremely drunk, and some were seen vomiting in the street. Walker is regarded as one of the
most gifted riders New Zealand has produced. He became the country's top
jockey at the age of 16, in his first season of riding, and rode more than
700 winners during his apprenticeship. Walker crossed the Tasman in May
2004, but after a successful start and a win in the Brisbane Cup in June, his
form dipped. Thirteen months later, after a spell in Singapore, he returned
to make headlines off the track. In July he wrote off his Mercedes-Benz after
a drunken bender, and a month later went on television to talk about his
off-track exploits in Australia, which included cocaine and alcohol and how the
car crash had resulted in him turning his life around. Contracted to Matamata trainer
Mark Walker, he said he was making a fresh start, and credited his fiancee,
Candace Smith, for her support. Walker's career has been
punctuated by success and scandal: September 2006: Announces his
first move into breeding racehorses March 2006: Wins Auckland Cup on
Pentane. October 2005: In trouble with
racing officials for saluting a big-race win with a pukana - poking out his
tongue and rolling his eyes. August 2005: Admits in television
to regularly using cocaine in Australia. June 2005: Returns home early.
Crashes his Mercedes-Benz at 4am in New Plymouth. Charged with drink driving
and disqualified. His lawyer says he will attend a clinic for his alcohol
problem. January 2005: Takes up six-month
contract in Singapore. December 2004: Returns to New
Zealand. May 2004: Moves to Melbourne. March 2004: Turns 20 and becomes a
senior rider. 2000: Wins the jockeys'
premiership at age of 16 in his first full season of riding. 1999: Has first race day ride. |
