The Southland Times
February 10, 2004
City officer joins investigation
by Chalpat Sonti
An Invercargill
police officer will be part of a team of police conducting a criminal
investigation of allegations of rape against three police officers.
The criminal investigation follows the allegation that the three officers pack raped the then 18-year-old Louise Nicholas and
violated her with a baton in Rotorua in 1986.
One of the officers involved is
The other men, who have left the force, are Tauranga city councillor Brad
Shipton and Napier car dealer Bob Schollum.
All three have denied the allegations, with Mr Rickards stood down on full pay
while the claims are investigated.
Southern police district commander Superintendent Nick Perry, 52, of
Mr Perry said from
One was an officer from Invercargill, while the other two were an officer and a
non-sworn staff member from
Mr Perry declined to give any further details about the staff involved in the
inquiry.
A police veteran of 33 years, Mr Perry has been involved in criminal
investigations against police before.
The allegations had stirred up a lot of public interest but, because of the
amount of information to be assessed, it was impossible to give a time frame
for the inquiry, Mr Perry said.