Dominion Post
April 5, 2004
Further police rape claim
by Martin Kay
Police are
investigating a second sexual complaint against suspended
Police spokesman Michael Player said the complaint, laid about a month ago, was
being investigated along with another complaint alleging sexual offences in the
1980s.
Mr Player declined to give details of the second complaint, but One News
reported on Saturday it was laid by a former constable who claimed she was
raped by Mr Powell at her birthday party, also in the 1980s. She did not come
forward at the time as she feared she would not be believed and her career
prospects would be harmed.
Lawyer Susan Hughes, acting for Mr Powell, said he totally rejected the claims,
and was confident he would be cleared. Mr Powell was stood down as
The Government has ordered a commission of inquiry into rape claims against the
police after Louise Nicholas said she was pack-raped in 1986 by then-policemen
Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton, and Clint Rickards, now
Mr Player said he did not know how many rape complaints had been made against
police since Ms Nicholas came forward.