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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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Evidence of sexual
offences alleged to have been committed by one of New Zealand's
highest-ranking police officers and two former policemen will be presented in
Rotorua District Court next week. But suppression orders
made by Judge Chris McGuire in the same court yesterday prevent the media
from reporting details of the case. Assistant Commissioner
Clinton John Tukotahi Rickards, Bradley Keith Shipton and Robert Francis
Schollum are alleged to have committed sexual offences against Rotorua woman
Louise Nicholas. All three men have
previously strenuously denied the allegations. Ahead of a depositions
hearing starting on Monday, Judge McGuire reinforced previous suppression
orders by saying the media must not publish the number of charges the three
men face or their details. He made several
suppression orders, which cannot be reported, but said Mrs Nicholas had
either consented or requested that her name be published so the media could
report the defendants were facing "a number of charges alleging sexual
offences". Although the hearing is
set down for two weeks, it is expected to be over within a week, as only
eight of about 50 witnesses are due to present their evidence verbally in
court. The other witnesses,
including Mrs Nicholas, will give their evidence by written statement.
Complainants in sex cases are legally protected against being required to
give evidence in court twice |
