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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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A jury of seven women
and five men has been given graphic details about how three policemen
allegedly raped and sexually abused a woman in Rotorua more than 20 years
ago. One of the men is now
Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards. He and two others were all
serving police officers in Rotorua when they used their physical size and the
fact they were policemen to force her into having sex, the High Court at
Auckland was told today. Crown prosecutor Mark
Zarifeh told the jury that Louise Nicholas never consented to sex but when
she told the three men that, it made no difference. The three men --
Rickards and former policemen Bradley Keith Shipton and Robert Francis
Schollum -- face 20 charges of rape and sexual abuse including the use of a
police baton. They deny all the charges. Mr Rickards was not
wearing his police uniform when he appeared in court today, Newstalk ZB
reported. Mr Zarifeh told the
court in his opening address today the men used their size and overbearing
manner to prevent resistance. He said during one
session she was taken into the bedroom by all three men. She knew what was
going to happen and told them she did not want to do it. "By this time
she was very scared," Mr Zarifeh said. However, the three
men's defence lawyers said in their opening statements that the incidents Ms
Nicholas alleges took place simply did not occur. The court heard graphic
details of the alleged sexual activity, including oral sex and the use of the
baton. "She reacted in fear, swearing at them and telling them there was
no way they were going to use that on her," Mr Zarifeh said. "She was crying
out," Mr Zarifeh said. She then heard Schollum say "that's
enough" and he told her to have a shower. Schollum took her home and
as she got out of the car he apologised, the court heard. Ms Nicholas is likely
to be one of the first prosecution witnesses. The trial is expected
to last three weeks. |
