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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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Almost three
years ago his legal future was nearly destroyed by a fellow student's false
accusation of rape. Yesterday he
was back in court but the outlook was not nearly as grim. Mr Wills was
admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court. A friend and
mentor, Mr Wills was a
22-year-old science graduate embarking on his second science degree at Accused of a
brutal rape, he was branded a serial rapist and harassed on campus, losing
his job and home at the university hostel. Mr Wills
fought to preserve his future and, with his parents, began a private
investigation to prove his innocence. Mr Scotter
persuaded the police to re-interview the 18-year-old complainant who
confessed to lying. Three months
after Mr Wills's arrest the charges were dropped. The police
investigation was later criticised by the Police Complaints Authority. Mr Wills said
he never felt like giving up his studies even when a move began on campus to
have him thrown out. ``If anything,
it made me want to dig my toes in and stick it out.'' Yet he learned
some harsh lessons. ``You expect
people that are learning the law to appreciate that the onus of proof is on
the Crown, and that you are innocent until you are proven guilty. ``But I've
realised that people just don't accept that.'' For the
remainder of his studies Mr Wills kept his head down at university. The present One, Craig Nimmo, who provided his alibi for the night of the
alleged rape, was admitted to the bar with him. Mr Wills, who
is working with the ``I've got to
be careful not to be a crusader. ``But whatever
position my client is in, it will help me empathise with them.'' |
