Sunday Star Times
February 8, 2004
Flatmate says Nicholas' sex with cops was consensual
by Rachel Grunwell
A woman who flatted
with Louise Nicholas around the time she alleges she was pack raped by three
police officers had told police she believed Nicholas' sex with these officers
was consensual.
Former detective chief inspector Rex Miller went to
The three men Nicholas has accused of raping her in a Rotorua house in 1986 are
assistant commissioner Clint Rickards and two former policemen Brad Shipton and
Bob Schollum. Shipton is now a Tauranga District councillor and bar owner and
Schollum is a Napier car salesman.
All three men have denied the rape allegations and claim the sex was
consensual. They have not commented further.
Miller said he questioned whether the flatmate was telling the truth and did
not regard her as a reliable witness.
"She was a girl that didn't want to be interviewed," said Miller,
adding the flatmate was glad when he left and "told us she didn't want to
see us again".
Former detective inspector John Dewar, who has been criticised over his
handling of Nicholas' initial allegations but is denying a cover-up, said he
was also aware of the flatmate's statement and said it was on police file.
He said the flatmate's statement said Nicholas willingly took part in sex with
these people.
Nicholas has previously said she did not tell anyone about the alleged rape at
the time because she thought no one would believe her given the people she was
accusing were police officers. It was not until some time later she tried to
complain to police.
Police will no longer comment on any aspect of the case because of the
commission of inquiry set up to investigate the police handling of Nicholas'
claims.
Last week, Police Commissioner Rob Robinson also reopened a criminal
investigation into Nicholas' allegations. It is likely the flatmate's statement
will also be re-investigated by police in this inquiry.
Yesterday a police spokesman said any material on the files in relation to
Nicholas' case would form part of the re-investigation.
Rickards was last week stood down from duty. His partner Tania Eden, a police
inspector who is about to start work in
In the last week several women have claimed other police failed to adequately
investigate their historic rape claims and these cases may become part of the
government's new inquiry. Police culture in the 1980s will also be
investigated.
Nicholas said she has been advised by lawyers not to comment on the case until
after the inquiries are complete - which could take up to a year. But she
wanted to thank her husband of 16 years, Ross, for being so supportive.
She also wanted to thank her parents, Barbara and Jim Crawford, who knew about
the original inquiry "and know everything", she said.
Nicholas said if anyone doubted her version of events she wanted to tell them:
"I am being entirely truthful."