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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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Media came close to
outnumbering members of the public at a pre-trial hearing for Assistant
Police Commissioner Clinton Rickards and two former policemen accused of
raping Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas. Twelve journalists
filled seats in an area usually occupied by jurors at the start of the
depositions hearing at the Rotorua District Court yesterday. A thirteenth journalist
was seated on the opposite side of the room. Fifteen people in the
public gallery in the morning eyed the media contingent warily. Among the five women
and two men in the gallery's front row were the wives of the accused former
policemen, Bradley Shipton and Robert Schollum. Several of the men's
supporters shook their heads when Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh outlined the
allegations. A depositions hearing
is a preliminary hearing to determine whether a case will go to trial. Judge Chris McGuire
warned the people in the public gallery that they were to speak to no one
about evidence subject to the suppression orders in the case. The accused sat near
their respective lawyers, exchanging hugs and kisses with supporters in
breaks in the proceedings. Rickards' back was to
the media, revealing a scar across the lower part of his shaved head. Shipton wore a black
suit and bright tie with blue and red detail. He turned to smile at family
members several times. Schollum, also in a
dark suit, requested a pen and paper during the evidence of the first
witness, Mrs Nicholas' mother-in-law, Phyllis Nicholas. He wrote intently for
periods during the testimony. Tanned but with large
bags visible under his eyes, Schollum spent some of the proceeding with his
head leaned against his hand. A gold wedding band was
visible on his ring finger. The other two accused
also alternated between writing and looking directly at witnesses on the
stand. Mrs Nicholas' husband,
Ross Nicholas, gave evidence and avoided looking at the accused. The evidence was read
back to each witness by the court registrar, as is required in depositions
hearings. |
