The Dominion Post
April 17, 2004
Rape commission rulings
The commission of inquiry into historic
rape allegations against police has turned down a request to deal only with
illegal sexual conduct.
The commission had been asked by Police Association lawyer Susan Hughes to
limit itself to criminal sexual behaviour, and not examine matters that were
lawful but morally questionable unless they impacted on an officer's ability to
do their job.
The commission -- headed by Justice Bruce Robertson -- was launched after
allegations by Louise Nicholas that three police officers pack-raped her in
1986, when she was 18. Two, Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton, have since left the
police and the third, Clint Rickards, now
The men have said the sex was consensual and have denied rape.
In a ruling issued last night, the commission said it had no wish for an
inquiry into police morality. However, it would examine non-criminal sexual
behaviour if there was a link with the standards expected of police.
The commission also said it would hear complaints from January 1, 1979, to the
present day, and not restrict the time frame to before February 18 this year,
when the commission was created.