Newstalk ZB
May 14 2004

Historical alleged police rape case reopened

Police have reopened the other historical rape case specifically cited for attention by the Commission of Inquiry.

They are reinvestigating Kaitaia woman Judith Garrett's allegation she was raped by a local police officer in 1988.

Charges were never laid against Constable Timothy Ogle, after Ms Garrett complained he lured her into the Kaitaia police station one night and raped her. He was discharged from the police, but no further action was taken.

Ms Garrett alleges a cover-up. She unsuccessfully went to the Appeal Court several years later, even though the judge stated he believed a rape had occurred.

Her daughter Katherine Sheffield was murdered in 1994, shortly after Ms Garrett took the civil case over her rape complaint.

Ms Sheffield's murder is also being reinvestigated.

Ms Garrett and Rotorua complainant Louise Nicholas are specifically named in the terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry into police handling of rape complaints.