The NZ Herald
February 4, 2004
Police cover-up allegations:
'Inquiry should have happened 10 years ago'
by Julie Middleton
Louise Nicholas is
"stoked" that the Government has announced a commission of inquiry
into her historic rape allegations.
Yesterday afternoon, as the news broke, husband Ross rushed to the farm where
his wife works, "dragged me out of the cowshed and told me they were
reopening the criminal investigation. I just burst into tears".
"It should have happened 10 years ago and I've had to wait this long for
them to do it ... "
She pauses, stifles a sob. "But it's happening and that's all good."
Mrs Nicholas, 36, says the alleged rape, in 1986 when she was 18, left her
suspicious of police officers and their motives.
"Every time I saw a police car or a uniform ... the hairs on the back of
my neck would stand on end. That's how I've been. I've always had this
fear."
She has also suffered "horrendous nightmares. I've had to bury them, because,
as you know, nobody believed me. I've left them buried for a very long
time".
Mrs Nicholas appears remarkably assured and confident given that her saga is
now 18 years old and has now thrust her into the public eye.
"You just learn to keep on living and live your life as normally as you
can."
Still, there are times "when I know I'm losing it, and I have to walk
outside ... "
Nothing has been hidden from the couple's three children, aged 14, 12 and 9.
"They know everything - absolutely everything. Ross and I have held
absolutely nothing back. It's helped them too."
Mrs Nicholas doesn't bear any grudges against police, and doesn't think anyone
else should.
"I'm quite sure that 90 per cent of the
However, Mrs Nicholas is aware some will be painting her as the villain.
"I do believe that there are some people out there saying some pretty
nasty things because they don't know me. But that's their opinions and they are
entitled to that."
The Nicholas family live on a lifestyle block with a
community of roughly 12 families who call it "the village".
Mrs Nicholas helps with milking on a nearby farm; the family raise a few sheep
and calves. Ross Nicholas, 39, is a milk tanker driver.
Rotorua-born Mrs Nicholas was number three of four children; the others were
all boys.
Her mother says that as a teenager, her daughter was "a very outgoing
young lady. She was a typical teenager, but she never gave us any trouble or
worries".
Mrs Nicholas left school aged 15. She got a job in a bank, and by 21 was
married to Ross.
People from Mrs Nicholas' past - staff of
Rex Miller met Mrs Nicholas when she was in her mid-20s and he was a detective
chief inspector: his job was to investigate the police inquiry into her claims
of rape.
"I felt she was naive and very vulnerable," says Mr Miller, now
retired. "But she was very definite ... she wasn't being evasive."
Step-by-step
guide to rape allegations
1986: Rotorua teenager Louise Nicholas,
18, is allegedly raped and violated by three police officers. The men are Clint
Rickards, now
1993: Police Complaints Authority (PCA)
Sir John Jeffries investigates the police handling of a separate sexual
misconduct allegation by Mrs Nicholas - also involving police.
1993: Mrs Nicholas complains to the then
Rotorua CIB chief Detective Inspector John Dewar about her alleged rape by Mr
Rickards, Mr Shipton and Mr Schollum. Mr Dewar begins investigating.
1993: A month after hearing Mrs Nicholas'
claims, Mr Dewar takes another statement from her, in which she indicates the
sex was consensual.
1995: Police Complaints Authority
launches an investigation into the police handling of a sexual misconduct case
which was criticised at the time by the trial judge. Detective Chief Inspector
Rex Miller discovers that Mr Dewar failed to record a formal statement in
relation to Mrs Nicholas' complaint against Mr Rickards and the two other men.
1995: PCA investigation finds insufficient
evidence to prompt a criminal investigation into the rape allegations.
Preliminary report by Sir John Jeffries finds the complaint should be cleared
as "not established".
1995: Margaret Craig, a sexual abuse
counsellor who dealt with Mrs Nicholas, writes to police headquarters
expressing concern about Mr Dewar's influence on her client.
1997: Despite knowing of the allegations
against Mr Rickards, Rob Robinson, who was assistant commissioner overseeing
the
2000: Prime Minister Helen Clark is told
about the allegations against Mr Rickards when he is a contender for deputy
commissioner (a statutory appointment). He is not appointed.
2001: Mr Robinson, now commissioner,
promotes Mr Rickards to assistant commissioner, bringing him to headquarters to
run a troubleshooting support team for him.
2004: On January 1, Mr Rickards becomes
head of the
Saturday: Mrs Nicholas goes public with her
allegations, saying she was manipulated to protect her attackers.
Sunday: Helen Clark asks for advice on an
urgent inquiry and reveals the sex allegations were a factor in a job decision
involving Mr Rickards.
Sunday: Mr Rickards, Mr Shipton and Mr
Schollum all deny the rape allegations against them.
Sunday: Mr Rickards takes three weeks'
leave, saying he expects to return "as normal" to work after an
inquiry. Mr Dewar firmly denies all allegations of wrongdoing and says he fully
investigated all complaints by Mrs Nicholas.
Yesterday: Helen Clark announces a commission
of inquiry into the allegations.
Yesterday: Mr Robinson says Mr Rickards has
been stood down pending the outcome of a reopened criminal investigation.
Yesterday: Mr Rickards says he will fight the allegations
to his last breath.