Stuff
February 18, 2004
Woman allegedly raped by police ready to talk to commission
NZPA
A Northland woman
who complained of being raped by a policeman is ready to tell her story to an
official inquiry - and she hopes the police will be equally frank.
Prime Minister Helen Clark announced this week that Justice Bruce Robertson and
Dame Margaret Bazley would head a Commission of
Inquiry into historic allegations of rape by police and the way the complaints
were investigated.
The terms of reference for the inquiry have not yet been set, but Judith
Garrett, who says she was handcuffed then raped by a Kaitaia
police constable in 1988, said she would be "fine" about telling the
commissioners of her experience.
"I'm not scared any more. I can hold my head up high and go there and
hopefully see some justice done. I do hope the police will be open and
frank."
The 60-year-old said that she was no longer worried about matters that concerned
her as a younger woman, such as her "reputation".
She said that after complaining about being raped, her life changed from being
"very ordinary" to being "terrifying" due to an organised
campaign to discredit her which included blood-stained sheets being left on her
lawn.
Ms Garrett said that she sent details of her case to Miss Clark after learning
of Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas' complaint that three policemen had raped her
in 1983 and 1986.
Ms Garrett welcomed Dame Margaret's appointment, saying: "I think she'll
be great. She would have no illusions. She'd be a hard woman to pull the wool
over her eyes."
Ms Garrett was also pleased with the appointment of High Court judge Justice
Robertson.
She was waiting to hear where the inquiry would be held, and what part she
would play in it.