Newstalk ZB
February 4, 2004
Councillor won't step down over allegations
Former police officer accused of pack raping teenager in Rotorua says he will
not step down as a councillor
Tauranga councillor Brad Shipton has confirmed he has no intention of stepping
down from the job.
The former police officer is one of the three accused of pack raping a teenager
in Rotorua in 1986.
Only one of the officers -
He has been stood down pending the results of an inquiry.
Mr Shipton says he will continue to fulfil all his civic obligations and work
hard.
The councillor - who is now a bar owner - has thanked people from his central
city Te Papa ward for their support.
He strongly denies the allegations against him and his former colleagues, which
are now to be investigated by a commission of inquiry.
Meanwhile Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick has called on news organisations to back
off from filming and visiting the Rotorua house involved in the alleged
incident.
She says the current owner has becoming an unwitting victim of the attention
and feels her privacy is being invaded.