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This page last updated April 2 2006
2006-0401 - The Press - Police
must rebuild their image in wake of Nicholas verdict
Editorial - Few New Zealanders would not have made up their minds about what
the verdict should have been in the Nicholas rape trial even before the jury
retired to consider its findings. The case warranted the description of
sensational: it attracted much publicity over a prolonged period and involved
a senior policeman and his former colleagues charged with the repeated and
sordid violation of a young woman. Those emotive ingredients aroused strong
and divided opinions among the public.
2006-0401 - One News -
Nicholas thanks supporters
 Louise Nicholas has released a
statement thanking supporters in the wake of Friday's acquittal of Assistant
Police Commissioner Clint Rickards and two former officers of raping her. The
family of Louise Nicholas released a brief statement on Saturday.
2006-0401 - NZ Herald -
Louise Nicholas thanks supporters
 NZPA - Louise Nicholas, the woman
who took one of the country's top policemen to court on rape and sex charges,
has been getting support from throughout the country.
2006-0401 - Stuff - Nicholas
speaks out, thanks supporters
Louise Nicholas, the woman who took one of the country's top policemen to
court on rape and sex charges, has been getting support from throughout the
country. Mrs Nicholas made comments through a family spokesman today that she
was "feeling as anyone would in her situation" the day after a jury
of seven woman and five men dismissed her allegations of rape and sexual
abuse against assistant police commissioner Clint Rickards and former
policemen, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum.
2006-0401 - The Press - Top cop
breaks down over verdict
By Deborah Diaz and Haydon Dewes - One by one they broke down in tears --
senior police officer Clint Rickards was the last to succumb. The suspended
Assistant Police Commissioner had stood stoically yesterday as the jury
forewoman was asked 20 times for a verdict
2006-0401 - The Press -
Rickards aimed to be first Maori top officer
(Dominion Post) - Possessing equal quantities of intellect and diplomacy,
Clint Rickards was determined from early in his career to become New
Zealand's first Maori police commissioner. His love of the blue uniform began
even before he left school. He was an unlikely candidate to be a law
enforcer. The burly boy from Rotorua, of Tainui
descent, was a rabble-rouser as a teen
2006-0401 - The Press - No
reaction from Nicholas
by Haydon Dewes - 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 had heard. The jury had not believed her.
2006-0401 - Otago Daily Times - Jury
clears trio of all historic sex charges
 Long pent-up emotions found voice
in gasps and guttural sobs among a packed public gallery yesterday as the
jury forewoman in the Louise Nicholas case uttered the words not guilty for
the 20th and last time. It was just after afternoon tea time, two days and
two hours since the seven women and five men on the jury were asked to begin
their deliberations.
2006-0401 - One News - Rape case
"police persecution"
The brother of one of the former police officers acquitted of sex charges
says the case amounted to little more than police persecution……Shipton's brother Greg Shipton says he believes the case
against the three men was politically motivated, and shouldn't go
unchallenged.
2006-0401 - NZ Herald - Tears
of relief
 By Eugene Bingham, Nicola Boyes,
Phil Taylor, Elizabeth Binning and Angela Gregory - Long pent-up emotions
found voice in gasps and guttural sobs among a packed public gallery
yesterday as the jury forewoman in the Louise Nicholas case uttered the words
"not guilty" for the 20th and last time.
2006-0401 - NZ Herald -
Rickards' partner speaks of 'rough time'
 (Newstalk ZB) - The partner of
Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards says her family just want to get
on with their lives
Tania Eden
2006-0401 - Newstalk ZB -
Rickards' partner speaks of "rough time"
The partner of Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards says her family
just want to get on with their lives. …..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.
2006-0401 - Dominion Post - A case
that had to go to court
Editorial - It took 20 years for Louise Nicholas to get her day in court.
That was too long, but the justice system has finally worked in the way that
it should in a democratic society -- in the open and according to the rule of
law. That the three men she had accused of raping her were acquitted does not
mean it was wrong that the issue went to court. The reality is that there was
little alternative.
2006-0401 - Dominion Post - A long
and tortuous trial for all
The news dropped like a bomb. Louise Nicholas, mother of three, had accused
one of the country's top police officers, Assistant Police Commissioner Clint
Rickards, 45, and former policemen Bradley Shipton, 53, and Robert Schollum,
47, of raping her six to 12 times, including with a police baton.
2006-0401 - Dominion
Post - Complainant walks out of court
by Haydon Dewes - 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
2006-0401 - Dominion Post -
From teen tearaway to top cop
Clint
Rickards after the verdict
Photo by John Selkirk
Possessing equal quantities of intellect and diplomacy, Clint Rickards was
determined from early in his career to become New Zealand's first Maori
police commissioner. His love of the blue uniform began even before he left
school. He was an unlikely candidate to be a law enforcer. The burly boy from
Rotorua, of Tainui descent, was a rabble-rouser as
a teen.
2006-0401 - Dominion Post -
How the saga unfolded
Review of key events following the allegations of Louise Nicholas in 2004
2006-0401 - Dominion Post -
Not guilty - and the tears flow
by Deborah Diaz and Haydon Dewes - One by one they broke down in tears –
Clint Rickards was the last to succumb. The suspended assistant police
commissioner had stood stoically as the jury forewoman was asked 20 times for
a verdict. Each time she replied: "Not guilty."
2006-0401 - Newstalk ZB -
Relief from acquitted men and their families
The lawyer for Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards says his client's case
never should have been brought. His lawyer, John Haigh QC does not believe the
case ever should have got to trial. He says he has lived with the case, as
has his client, for many years. Mr Haigh says there are a few things he will
say one day about the way the matter was dealt with by police.
2006-0331 - One
News - Police defend Rickard charges
 Police are defending their
decision to charge Clint Rickards. Deputy police commissioner Lyn Provost
says it was the force's job to investigate the case. Police chiefs will talk
to Rickards about his future employment following a high flying career that
saw him rise rapidly through the ranks
2006-0331 - Newstalk ZB - Gruelling trial reaches emotional end
It has been an emotional ending to the long trial of three men accused of
raping and sexually assaulting Louise Nicholas 20 years ago.
2006-0331 - One News - Rape jury
finds officers not guilty
The jury in the Louise Nicholas rape trial at the Auckland High court has
found assistant police commissioner Clint Rickards and former officers Bob
Schollum and Brad Shipton not guilty on a raft of sex charges dating back two
decades. One News reporter John Stewart says there was an enormous reaction
from the public gallery after the three men were acquitted on all 20 charges
of rape, sexual violation and indecent assault
 2006-0331 - Stuff - Top cop not guilty of
rape, sexual abuse
One of the country's highest ranking police officers and two former
colleagues were today cleared of historic rape and sexual abuse charges. Suspended
Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards showed little emotion as a jury of
seven women and five men returned their verdicts in the High Court at
Auckland today. Rickards and two former police colleagues, Brad Shipton and
Bob Schollum, faced a total of 20 charges of raping and sexually abusing
Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas in 1985 and 1986.
2006-0331 -
Newstalk ZB - Rickards, Schollum, Shipton not guilty
The three men accused of raping Louise Nicholas have been found not guilty on
all charges. They were facing 12 counts of rape and sexual assault relating
to incidents in Rotorua 20 years ago. A jury at the High Court in Auckland
has found Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards and former police
officers Bob Schollum, Brad Shipton not guilty
2006-0331 - NZ Herald - Jury
clears men in police rape trial
The three men accused of the rape and sexual assault of Louise Nicholas have
been found not guilty by a jury at the High Court in Auckland this afternooon…….. There were emotional scenes in the
courtroom as they gave their verdict at around 3pm. Family and supporters of
the three men cried and hugged each other.
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