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NZ Herald
July 26 2005 12:00pm
Pack-rape hearing resumes in secrecy
NZPA
A
depositions hearing into historical allegations of pack rape by one of New
Zealand's highest-ranking policemen and two former police officers resumed in
secrecy today with witnesses' evidence suppressed by a judge in Rotorua
District Court.
Assistant Commissioner Clinton John Tukotahi Rickards, 44, faces eight
charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual violation. Former policemen
Bradley Keith Shipton, 47, and Robert Francis Schollum, 53, are charged with
eight and four counts of rape,indecent assault and sexual violation
respectively.
All three men have previously strenously denied the allegations.
Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas alleges she was sexually abused in 1986, when
she was 18, by the three police officers who were based in Rotorua at the
time.
Judge Chris McGuire yesterday lifted supression orders preventing the
reporting of details about Mrs Nicholas' allegations.
However the evidence of some witnesses and about certain details of the
charges remain suppressed.
Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh is calling five witnesses to give verbal
evidence before the court. Another 39, including Mrs Nicholas - who is now a
38-year-old mother of three - will be presented in written statements.
Judge McGuire today ruled the media would be given access to those statements
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