Sunday
Star Times
April 4, 2004
Second sexual complaint made against senior cop
Powell raped me at party, says former female constable
by Amie Richardson
Suspended Superintendent
Kelvin Powell is facing a second sexual complaint, police national headquarters
confirmed last night.
Police spokesman Michael Player said the complaint was made a month ago as part
of the police inquiries into rape claims made by Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas.
It follows an earlier complaint against Powell by Nicholas, who accused the
senior officer of subjecting her to indecencies in the 1980s.
Player said the public was not told about the complaint, revealed on One News
last night, because it was "not usual practice". He conceded that
there could be other complaints about officers the public did not know about.
One News said the latest allegation came from a former
police constable. She told police investigators she had been raped by Powell at
her birthday party in the 1980s.
One News reported that police were told she didn't lay
a complaint at the time because she didn't think she'd be believed. She also
said she believed her career would be ruined if she complained.
Powell, through his lawyer Susan Hughes, completely denied any wrongdoing. He
said it was the first time he had heard of the rape allegation and would seek
details from police.
At the time of his stand-down, Powell strongly denied any wrongdoing. Hughes
said he was "confident the inquiry would clear him of any wrong- doing and
return him to full duties".
The investigation team is now looking into the claim.
Player said the high-profile nature of the complaint, and that it was against a
senior police officer, did not mean police were more likely to release details.
Although he was "not aware" of any other complainants, he did not
rule out the possibility that there were others.
"I am not aware of any that I could confirm, but I couldn't rule it out.
As the inquiry extends, the potential for others
(complainants) to come forward increases."
Powell was to leave in August as security chief for our Olympic athletes. He
was stood down two months ago.