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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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Louise Nicholas fixed
her stare on a mark on the carpet as the words "not guilty" reverberated
around the courtroom 20 times. There were no tears, or
expressions of anger, just a sad, blank stare of disbelief as she tried to
comprehend what she heard. The jury had not
believed her. As they stood in the
dock to hear their fate, she refused to look at the three men she had accused
of raping and sexually abusing her. First Bob Schollum,
then Brad Shipton, then Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards wept
tears of relief as the jury's verdicts were read. As the last charge was
read and dismissed by the jury forewoman, celebration erupted in the packed
public gallery, despite warnings by the judge for people to keep calm. Family
members leapt out of their chairs and hugged each other, weeping. One cried
out: "We did it." Clasping husband Ross'
hand, Mrs Nicholas was herded out the door by her family and police and
escorted away in stunned silence. Supporters spilled out
of the court into the foyer and slapped each other's backs, gripped each
other tight and cried. "We won, we
won," Schollum's wife, Caron, said as she rocked side to side in an
close embrace with a friend. There was relief, but
also anger. Family members raged at the police "witch-hunt". They gathered in a
circle outside the courtroom and, as they had done often during the 27-hour
vigil while the jury considered its verdict, and said a karakia. Mrs Schollum and Brad
Shipton's wife Sharon, who have been inseparable during the trial, gazed at
each other in teary-eyed joy, as if not sure whether to believe what had
happened. Shortly after, Rickards
emerged from the courtroom victorious, with kisses and hugs for his wife
Tania Eden. Ushered into a small room, he gripped his son William in a bear
hug, shaking with emotion. For the past three
weeks Courtroom 12 of the High Court at Auckland has been a place of sadness,
anger and anxiety. Yesterday, it erupted in joy, but there was no place for
Louise Nicholas. |
