The Dominion Post
March 26, 2004

Nicholas drained by weeks of questioning

Weeks of intensive police interviews, some lasting more than five hours a day, have finally eased off for Louise Nicholas.

For more than a month, the woman whose claims of pack-rape in 1986 by three police officers sparked a commission of inquiry into police conduct, has sat down with a detective at her house almost every day and retold her story in minute detail, from start to finish.

It has seemed like an eternity.

"I was hoping when the story broke that it would be all over and done with in a month -- yeah right. They said they will leave no stone unturned and they aren't, at all."

Despite the time commitments and the pain of dredging up events, she has been happy to let police do their job and has found their attitude and behaviour to be faultless, which has been "a real turnabout" for her.

"They have fitted around me and my family. A few hours in the morning and the same again in the afternoon. I'm more than happy to let them do their job.

"[But] it hasn't been easy, don't get me wrong, it's going back all over again but it has to be done. It swings around in your head 24/7."

While police have now finished the bulk of their interviews with Mrs Nicholas, they continue to come back sporadically to verify points or ask further questions as the investigation proceeds. "I could be still sitting here [answering questions] this time next year."