NZ Herald
December 20 2004
Nicholas case man returns to work
A former senior detective
accused by Louise Nicholas of a cover-up of her complaint of being pack-raped
by three policemen in Rotorua has returned to his St
John Ambulance job.
John Dewar returned last
month as human resources manager of St John Midland region after nine months’
special leave to enable him to prepare for a commission of inquiry ordered by
the Government over Ms Nicholas’ allegations.
The commission has adjourned indefinitely while a police team set up to
investigate Ms Nicholas’ claims completes its inquiries.
Twenty detectives will
resume their 10-month investigation next month.
Ms Nicholas’ allegations
date back to when she was 13 in Murupara. She says
she was pack-raped at age 18 in a Rotorua police
house, during which she alleges she was violated with a police baton.
The police team, co-opted
mainly from the
Spokesman Jon Neilson
said it made sense to have
Ms Nicholas alleges seven
policemen committed sex crimes against her, including Brad Shipton,
Bob Schollum and Clint Rickards,
who she said were involved in the baton incident. The three named have denied
the allegations.
Since leaving the police,
Mr Shipton has owned bars and was a
Assistant Commissioner Rickards has been stood down since February from his job as
The team’s investigations
include other complaints against officers.