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This page last updated March 20 2005
2004-0205 - Stuff - More rape claims against
police officers emerge
NZPA - Further claims of rape by police officers were surfacing today
following the Government's decision to order a commission of inquiry into the
handling of pack-rape allegations. National Radio reported that an Auckland
Sexual Abuse Help Foundation counsellor knew of four cases in the past 18
months of rape complaints against police that did not make it to court.
2004-0205 - Otago Daily Times -
Police rape inquiry to consider second case Kaitaia woman comes forward
The
case of a second woman alleging rape involving a police officer is being
taken into account as terms of reference are drawn up for a commission of
inquiry into allegations by Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas. Judith Garrett
took a private prosecution against the Attorney-general, alleging police
failed to properly investigate a Kaitaia rape claim against a police officer
2004-0205 - One News - More cops
accused of rape
A rape counselling service says it knows of other cases involving rape
complaints against police officer haven't made it to court
2004-0205 - NZ Herald - Alleged
rape victim: I want to see policeman in the dock
by Louisa Cleave - Judith Garrett still hopes to see the police
officer she alleges raped her more than 15 years ago stand trial. Prime
Minister Helen Clark has confirmed Ms Garrett's case will be taken into
account when terms of reference are drawn up for a commission of inquiry into
the police handling of an alleged pack-rape by three police officers.
2004-0205 - NZ Herald - Claims
shattering, says former Rotorua officer
NZPA - A former senior Rotorua policeman is shattered by the
resurfacing of pack-rape allegations involving men he commanded. Former
senior sergeant Max Jones, who served in Rotorua for all but one year between
1985 and 2000, says he thought the subject had been put to rest many years
ago.
2004-0205 - NZ Herald - Inquiry to
look into 'deathbed confession'
by Ainsley Thomson and NZPA - A former policeman's reported deathbed
confession that he was warned to keep quiet about claims of a police
pack-rape will be examined in the reopened criminal investigation
2004-0205 - NZ Herald - Opening
doors of a closed culture
by Renee Kiriona - The search for truth is on but putting the police
force under the microscope will be very difficult. Inquiries, which include
looking at allegations by Louise Nicholas that she was gang raped in 1986 by
three police officers, have begun. And according to some retired officers,
rape crisis experts and academics those heading the inquiries are likely to
face difficulties
2004-0205 - NZ Herald - Probe will
include similar cases
by Kevin Taylor - Other "relevant" cases will form part of
the commission of inquiry into the handling of police pack-rape allegations,
says Prime Minister Helen Clark. But a spokesman said the commission,
announced on Tuesday, would not be a forum for just any grievance against the
police.
2004-0205 - NZ Herald -
'Professional with a heart'
by Julie Middleton - Steve Long is heading the police investigation
into complaints by Louise Nicholas that she was raped by three police
officers in a Rotorua police house in 1986, when she was 18.
2004-0205 - Dominion Post -
Another rape claim 'the final straw' - PM
by Nick Venter, Kelly Andrew and Gordon Jon Thompson - Another alleged
rape by a police officer was a key factor in the Government's decision to
order an independent inquiry into the alleged pack rape of Louise Nicholas.
2004-0205 - Dominion Post - My
hair stood on end, says PM
by Nick Venter, Kelly Andrew and Gordon Jon - Another alleged rape by
a police officer was a key factor in the Government's decision to order an
independent inquiry into the alleged pack rape of Louise Nicholas.
2004-0204 - One News - Deathbed
confession in rape case
A deathbed confession linked to the Rotorua police rape allegations has
added fresh fuel to the controversial case. Now Nicholas' brother Peter
Crawford is claiming he received a deathbed confession from former police
sergeant and close friend Trevor Clayton as the man lay dying of cancer.
Crawford says the man asked for Nicholas and her family to forgive him,
backing her claims of a rape and subsequent cover up.
2004-0204 - Otago Daily Times -
Police face inquiry into rape handling
An independent commission of inquiry with wide-ranging powers and a
reopened criminal investigation were announced yesterday
2004-0204 - Newstalk ZB - Pack
rape house owner is fed up
Woman whose house was scene of alleged police pack rape in 1986 has
had enough of unwanted publicity
2004-0204 - Newstalk ZB - Councillor won't
step down over allegations
Former police officer accused of pack raping teenager in Rotorua says
he will not step down as a councillor. Tauranga councillor Brad Shipton has
confirmed he has no intention of stepping down from the job.
2004-0204 - Libertarianz Party - Clark is
Wrong on Police Inquiry
by Robert Palmer - Helen Clark's police inquiry is off to a very poor
start. "Clark blunders from issue to
non-issue, confusing the roles of the criminal investigation and the
politically-appointed commission of inquiry."
2004-0204 - Newstalk ZB - Commission of
Inquiry running within fortnight
Attorney General Margaret Wilson expects inquiry into the police pack
rape claims will be run by a retired judge. The Commission of Inquiry into
the police pack rape claims should be up and running within a fortnight.
Attorney General Margaret Wilson says she has not yet approached anyone to
head the Inquiry, but they are looking at a retired judge.
2004-0204 - Green Party - Greens
want Police inquiry made public
Press Release - "The commission's terms of reference should
specifically allow the public to make submissions so that the inquiry head
cannot impose arbitrary definitions of who is, and isn't, an 'interested
person'," said Keith Locke, Green Spokesperson on the Police.
2004-0204 - NZ Herald - Former
policeman said to have made deathbed confession
NZPA - A former policeman made a deathbed confession saying he was
warned to keep quiet about rape claims made by Louise Nicholas, the Dominion
Post reported today. The newspaper said a friend of the policeman, Louise
Nicholas' brother Peter Crawford, said that the week before former Rotorua
policeman Trevor Clayton died last year, Mr Clayton broke down and said he
wanted to ask for forgiveness from Mrs Nicholas and her family.
2004-0204 - NZ Herald - Clark
turns heat on police
by
Kevin Taylor, political reporter - Prime Minister Helen Clark has ordered a
powerful commission of inquiry into the police's handling of claims that
three police officers pack-raped a woman. The culture within the police will
also be under the microscope of the inquiry, which she said might take most
of this year.
2004-0204 - NZ Herald - Blunt
talker, straight-up guy
Former Detective Chief Inspector Rex Miller is a blunt talker with a
dry sense of humour. He is frequently politically incorrect and fond of the
odd colourful word. But he is also articulate and straight-up. At one point
in a wide-ranging conversation, he says: "If you tell the truth you
don't have to have a good memory."
2004-0204 - NZ Herald - Second
woman's anguish
by Eleanor Black - A second woman whose rape complaint was bungled by
police has spoken out about police treatment. The woman, whose 1982 rape complaint
was handled in what a police investigator later agreed was a "woefully
inadequate" manner, used to live close to Louise Nicholas, whose
pack-rape complaint has sparked a commission of inquiry. The woman, whose
name has been suppressed, was given a police apology for the way she was
treated but she wants compensation.
2004-0204 - NZ Herald - Police
worried reputation tai
by Staff Reporters - In police staff canteens around the country, news
of the commission of inquiry hit like a physical assault. Police, among the
most respected professions in the country, have found themselves in the glare
of bad publicity over rape allegations and whether they were investigated
properly. Word passed quickly among rank and file police yesterday as news
broke that criminal investigations would be reopened into historical rape
allegations and a senior policeman, Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards,
had been stood down.
2004-0204 - NZ Herald - Nicholas
account credible says counsellor
by Ainsley Thomson and NZPA - On hearing the news that the criminal
investigation into the police pack-rape had been reopened and a commission of
inquiry started, Margaret Craig switched off her phone and headed straight
for the beach. The past three days for the sexual abuse counsellor, who
worked with Louise Nicholas - the woman at the centre of the allegations -
have been a roller-coaster of emotions. Yesterday afternoon she had a rare
moment of relief from the case that has concerned her for the last 10 years
2004-0204 - NZ Herald - Mayor
unaware of allegations against Rickards
by Louisa Cleave - Auckland City Mayor John Banks says he was not told
of historical allegations against Clint Rickards when he was promoted to the
city's top police job. Mr Banks said he was also not briefed on the case
during his time as police minister between 1990 and 1993, when a Police
Complaints Authority investigation was conducted into Louise Nicholas' rape
allegations.
2004-0204 - NZ Herald - 'Inquiry should have
happened 10 years ago'
by Julie Middleton - Louise Nicholas is "stoked" that the
Government has announced a commission of inquiry into her historic rape
allegations. Yesterday afternoon, as the news broke, husband Ross rushed to
the farm where his wife works, "dragged me out of the cowshed and told
me they were reopening the criminal investigation. I just burst into
tears". "It should have happened 10 years ago and I've had to wait
this long for them to do it ... "
2004-0204 - Newstalk ZB - Investigation
head says no cover-up
The man who originally investigated allegations that three policemen
raped a Rotorua teenager in 1986 is defending his inquiry. As a detective
inspector, Mr Dewar looked into Louise Nicholas's claim that she was raped by
Auckland City district head Assistant
Commissioner Clint Rickards and former colleagues Brad Shipton and Bob
Schollum. She alleges Mr Dewar failed to carry out a proper investigation in
order to protect his colleagues
2004-0204 - Newstalk ZB - Staff
traumatised by pack rape claims
Mr
Robinson says the allegations have traumatised some of his staff, who have
expressed a range of emotions. He says there is a pride in the
professionalism of the organisation that is carried by all police officers
and when something touches one of them it reflects upon everyone. Mr Robinson
says public trust and confidence in the |
