Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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The partner of
Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards says her family just want to get
on with their lives. Clint Rickards, along
with former policemen Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum, has been acquitted on 20
charges of raping Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas. Clint Rickards' partner
Tania Eden says it's been a rough time for herself and her five children. Ms Eden says she and Mr
Rickards just want to get back to watching their kids play rugby and netball,
and have an ordinary family life. Police National
Headquarters says a decision about Mr Rickards' employment with the police is
yet to be made. Meanwhile, a brother of
one of the three policemen acquitted of raping Louise Nicholas 20 years ago
is furious the case went as far as it did. Brad Shipton's brother,
Greg Shipton, says the trial was merely an attempt to prevent Clint Rickards
becoming the first Maori Police Commissioner. He says if Mr Rickards was a
plumber from Rotorua the case never would have got this far. He says the jury's 27
hour deliberation paled in comparison to the real wait the families of the
accused have faced. Mr Shipton says they
have been been hauled over the coals and slated for the last ten years. He
says it was the hardest thing his family has ever had to do. |