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This page last
updated April 2 2006
2006-0326 - Sunday Star Times - Someone
is lying - now, it's truth time
by Steve Braunias - The third and final week of the trial begins tomorrow.
Justice Tony Randerson has advised the jury it could expect to be sent out on
Wednesday. Throughout the trial, prosecution and defence lawyers, as well as
the judge, have expressed surprise at its speed
2006-0325 - Dominion Post - The
trial of three men
Deborah Diaz charts the progress of the trial from day to day, summarizing
the key points from each day
2006-0323 - Otago Daily Times
- Nicholas a vindictive liar, Rickards insists
 Over and over in the witness box
Rickards said: Louise Nicholas is lying. He said: The allegations made by Mrs
Nicholas are lies. That’s the only way I can describe it.
2006-0323 - NZ Herald -
Rickards takes the stand, impervious as a wax model
by Carroll Du Chateau - As Rickards tells it, the two times he and colleague
Brad Shipton had sex with 18-year-old Louise Nicholas were happy, jovial
occasions. Rickards can't remember why his friend Brad Shipton picked him up
and took him to their colleague Bob Schollum's place in Rutland St one night
after dark. What he can remember is that Nicholas was there, welcomed them in
and almost immediately sat on his lap. "It was a jovial occasion,
laughing, giggling, talking away. It was a very happy occasion."
2006-0323 - Dominion Post -
Rickards has his say
by Haydon Dewes - His tale is one of defiance as he rages against the lies he
says have been told about him, about the biased treatment he, and all police,
have received at the hands of the media since he was accused of raping Mrs
Nicholas. "Mrs Nicholas is lying," he repeatedly tells the court.
 2006-0323 -
Dominion Post - Nicholas is lying, says Rickards
by Deborah Diaz - Rickards, a father of five and Auckland's top policeman,
took the witness stand yesterday to tell a High Court jury at Auckland that
Mrs Nicholas was lying about being raped and abused with a police baton 20
years ago. The truth, he said, was that he and his friend Bradley Shipton
once watched each other have sex with the then 18-year-old. About a week
later, she gave him oral sex and then he had sex with her flatmate.
Clint Rickards
photo: John Selkirk
2006-0322 - Newstalk ZB - Top cop
labels rape complaint a lie
Clint Rickards says he could not have visited rape complainant Louise
Nicholas' flat wearing police uniform, because he was not in the uniformed
branch at the time.
2006-0322 - One News - Rickards
says rape claims are lies
 Assistant police commissioner
Clint Rickards says Rotorua rape complainant Louise Nicholas is lying.
Rickards is giving evidence in his own defence at his trial over Mrs
Nicholas' historical sex abuse allegations at the High Court in Auckland.
Louise Francis Nicholas
2006-0322 - Newstalk ZB -
Rickards says allegations are lies
One of the country's most senior police officers has repeatedly told the High
Court in Auckland that allegations made by Louise Nicholas are lies.
Rickards testified before a court-room packed with supporters. He told the
court that sex with Louise Nicholas was consensual, that it was a fun and
jovial time and it happened on two occasions in the evening. He also denied
ever being involved in any group sex at the Rutland St police house or using
a police baton during sex.
2006-0322 - Newstalk ZB -
Rickards defends wearing uniform
Prosecutor
Brent Stanaway
from One News
Under cross examination about the uniform incident , Rickards said for the
last two and a half years he has been subjected to biased media attacks. He
said the reason he wore the uniform is because he is proud to be a police
officer
2006-0322 - NZ Herald -
Nicholas lying, top policeman tells court
NZPA - Alleged rape victim Louise Nicholas was lying when she claimed Clint
Rickards wore a police uniform during sexual abuse, the policeman told jurors
in the High Court at Auckland today.
2006-0322 - Stuff - Nicholas was
lying, Rickards tells jury
Alleged rape victim Louise Nicholas was lying when she claimed Clint Rickards
wore a police uniform during alleged sex abuse, the policeman told jurors in
the High Court at Auckland today. Rickards said he never wore uniforms when
he was in the Rotorua CIB during the time Mrs Nicholas claimed he raped and
sexually abused her.
2006-0322 - Newstalk ZB -
Rickards takes the stand today
One of the country's top policeman will give evidence in his own defence
today, in the face of 20-year-old sex abuse allegations. Rickards' lawyer
John Haigh QC says the vast discrepancy between his client's claim of
consensual sex with Mrs Nicholas and her accusations, cannot be explained by
poor memories and errors.
2006-0322 - NZ Herald -
Rickards' turn to take the stand
by Nicola Boyes - Clint Rickards, one of the highest ranking officers in the
New Zealand police, takes the stand in the High Court at Auckland today to
reply to rape allegations that his lawyer says have probably destroyed his
career…… Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen McGregor arrested Rickards, who
said he had three things to say: "Frankly, I am disgusted it has taken
14 months to get to this position. I totally and vehemently refute the
allegations made by Louise Francis Nicholas. And because of the unfair way I
have been treated in the last 14 months, I am not prepared to say
anything."
2006-0322 - Dominion Post
- Delicate rhythms of a courtroom drama
by Haydon Dewes - He does it slowly, with calculated gravity and meticulously
crafted turns of phrase. John Haigh,
QC, defence lawyer for rape accused Clint Rickards, is taking the jury through
the steps he will take in an effort to destroy the Crown's case against his
client.
2006-0322 - Dominion Post -
Rickards' rape trial 'nightmare'
by Deborah Diaz - Assistant Commissioner Clinton Rickards will testify today
that he did not rape Louise Nicholas in Rotorua 20 years ago…..….. Mr Haigh
asked the jury "to keep in mind" a number of points that "may
well destroy Mrs Nicholas' allegations". There was an "extraordinary
clash" between Mrs Nicholas and her former flatmate, who had described a
friendly atmosphere and sexual freedom at the flat. There was also the
"improbability" of the Rutland St allegations, if Mrs Nicholas had
gone into the house knowing she would be raped and done nothing.
2006-0321 - One News - Rickards set
to take stand
A suspended top policeman on trial for rape will enter the witness box on
Wednesday. Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickard's lawyer told the jury
they'll hear a much different version of events from that told by his accuser
- Louise Nicholas……… When he opened his defence on Tuesday, Rickards's lawyer
John Haigh QC told the jury Nicholas had told a series of calculated lies. He
claimed the Rotorua woman's memory of events some 20 years ago was made up of
delusional recollections and was utterly false.
2006-0321 - Newstalk ZB -
Assistant police commissioner defence
Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards will give evidence in his own
defence on historical sex abuse charges. Rickards is expected to tell a High
Court jury in Auckland tomorrow, that he had consensual sex twice with
Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas.
2006-0321 - Newstalk ZB -
Rape allegations defence due today
Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards' defence case against historical
rape allegations opens in the High Court at Auckland this afternoon. The
Crown has closed its case after six-and-a-half days of evidence against the
top policeman and two former colleagues
2006-0321 - Newstalk ZB - Crown
ends case against top policeman
The Crown case against a top policeman and two former colleagues over
historical rape allegations has closed. Evidence from 44 witnesses have been
presented over the six and a half days.
2006-0321 - NZ Herald - More
evidence suppressed in historic rape-abuse trial
by Nicola Boyes - Another three secret witnesses are expected to start giving
evidence in the High Court at Auckland today at the trial of one of the
country's highest ranked police officers and two former policemen.
Suppression orders prevent the media from publishing the names of the people
or any of the evidence they are giving for the Crown
2006-0320 - NZ Herald - Secret
witness gives evidence at historic sex trial
NZPA - The evidence of a secret witness has been suppressed at the trial of
one of the country's top policemen and two former policemen on rape and
sexual abuse charges in the High Court at Auckland today. Nothing identifying
the witness, or any evidence can be reported as the trial enters its sixth
day.
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