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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 will prevent details being made public. 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 denied the
allegations. Ahead of a depositions hearing starting on Monday,
Judge McGuire reinforced previous suppression orders by saying the number of
charges the three men faced or their details could not be made public. He made several other suppression orders which
cannot be reported, but said the media could report that the defendants were
facing "a number of charges alleging sexual offences" against Mrs
Nicholas. 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. It is understood that arguments about the rights of
the defendants to a fair trial and the delay in bringing the charges will be
raised in the depositions hearing. Barristers contacted said it was normal for police
prosecutions of sex charges to establish a prima facie case in depositions hearings
and proceed to trial, because it was difficult for defence lawyers to
successfully challenge the word of a complainant at the depositions stage. Complainants in sex cases are legally protected
against being required to give evidence in court twice, but defence lawyers
can apply in special circumstances for complainants to give verbal depositions. |
