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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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One of New Zealand's
highest ranking policemen and two former police officers were today committed
to stand trial before the High Court on historical allegations of pack rape. 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. 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. Following a two-day
depositions hearing in Rotorua District Court Judge Chris McGuire today
ordered the men to stand trial. "My job is to find
whether there is sufficient evidence to place the defendants on trial, and I
do so find," he told the court. Lawyers for the accused
men said their clients denied the allegations and would plead not guilty. Judge McGuire remanded
the men to the High Court at Rotorua on September 1. |
