The Northland Age
February 10 2004
Home again - with mixed emotions
Judith Garrett has worked
hard at restoring some balance to her life since she was allegedly raped by an
off-duty officer at the Kaitaia police station in
1988. She hopes that her recent return to the Far North, which she continues to
regard as home, from Otago, will take her a long way towards completing that
process, although her return has coincided with the inclusion of her case in a
commission of inquiry, sparked by the alleged rape of a teenager by three police
officers in Rotorua in 1986.
Ms Garrett said last week
that she was extremely gratified that her experience would be part of the
enquiry, although she had no intention of further pursuing criminal charges
against the officer who she claimed raped her, and would be happy simply to
allow the inquiry to take its course. In any event she doubted that she could
stop it, particularly given Prime Minister Helen Clark’s response to her
claims. (Ms Clark was quoted last week as saying that the file had made her hair
stand on end, and raised further questions regarding the police culture. She
was also reported as saying that Ms Garrett’s experience had been the final
straw in terms of launching an inquiry).
“It’s out of my hands
really, and I’m glad about that,” Ms Garrett said.
“Maybe justice will
finally be done, although nothing that happens now can give me back the last 16
years of my life.”