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Allegations of abuse
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peterellis homepage / police allegations / Louise
Nicholas vs John Dewar |
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A judge gave evidence yesterday in
the high-profile trial of former policeman John Dewar. District Court judge Leslie Atkins
previously acted as a defence lawyer in a trial in which Dewar, the former
Rotorua CIB head, gave evidence. In the High Court at Hamilton
yesterday, the jury heard details of how Dewar, 55, twice caused the trial of
a former police officer accused of indecently assaulting Louise Nicholas at
Murupara to be aborted by giving inadmissable evidence. Dewar is on trial on four counts
of attempting to obstruct or defeat the course of justice. The charges relate to Mrs
Nicholas' complaints of sexual offending by police officers in the 1980s. Judge Atkins acted as defence
lawyer for the officer accused of sexually assaulting Mrs Nicholas at
Murupara, and told the court Dewar gave evidence at the man's 1993 trial
claiming another police officer had told him he was prepared to lie on behalf
of the accused. The trial was subsequently aborted
but at the officer's second trial in 1994 Dewar again gave inadmissable
evidence by telling the court about investigations into alleged offending
against Mrs Nicholas by Clint Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum. Judge Atkins said Dewar did not
appear concerned about the mistrials at the time. "I had the impression that he
was untroubled by what had occurred," Judge Atkins told the court. The officer was acquitted at his
third trial and given permanent name suppression. Dewar's trial, before Justice Hansen
and a reduced jury of 11 people, is expected to run into next week |
