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Nicholas vs John Dewar |
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A sex abuse counsellor told the
Hamilton High Court yesterday she was surprised a police officer in charge of
a sex abuse case contributed to a session she had with rape complainant
Louise Nicholas. That officer was retired Rotorua
CIB chief John Dewar. He faces four charges of attempting to obstruct or
defeat the course of justice between 1993 and 1995. Dewar was chief inspector when Mrs
Nicholas approached police in 1993 with two historical sex allegations,
including one against suspended Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards
and former policemen Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum. Crown prosecutor Brent Stanaway,
QC, yesterday called counsellor Margaret Craig. Ms Craig had about 20 sessions
over 18 months; many around the time of three trials in which it was alleged
Mrs Nicholas was raped by a police officer, who has permanent name
suppression. The first two trials were aborted
when inadmissible evidence was given by Dewar, and at the third trial the
policeman was acquitted. Ms Craig said Dewar had dropped Mrs Nicholas off at
about six appointments. But on November 10, 1993, Dewar
sat in on a 90-minute session, something, said Ms Craig, had never happened
before, or since, in her career. Mrs Nicholas had spoken about how
she had been abused at the age of 13, but Dewar had also spoken. "My lasting impression of
that meeting was my surprise when Mr Dewar talked about consensual sex that
Louise had with a number of police officers. It surprised me that he was
using that term." Asked for her observations of the
relationship between Dewar and Mrs Nicholas, Ms Craig said Mrs Nicholas
looked uncomfortable and embarrassed, and that she was paying attention to
Dewar. Later, Ms Craig phoned Dewar to
express her concern about his relationship with Mrs Nicholas. She was aware
the pair lunched together and said the closeness between them created risks. "I believe I would have
mentioned the fact he was investigating his colleagues and that was
concerning me, given his involvement with Louise." She felt the involvement was
"excessive" and she was concerned about Mrs Nicholas'
vulnerability. Whangarei district court judge
David McDonald took the stand, the second judge in as many days to do so. Judge McDonald was the crown
prosecutor during the aborted trials of 1993 and 1994. His account of what
led to the aborted trials was similar to that given by judge Les Atkins on
Monday. Judge McDonald said he had no
knowledge Dewar would make hearsay comments that led to the first case being
abandoned. Judge McDonald said he was unhappy about the trial coming to a
stop. In explanation Dewar said "he wanted to get the game back on a
level playing field". Before the second trial Dewar had
taken a further statement from Mrs Nicholas about sex allegations to do with police
officers described as "the Murupara four". All four men have name
suppression. Judge McDonald said he was aware
of this, and further allegations were being made about a police officer who
had taken Mrs Nicholas to a house in Rotorua. However, Judge McDonald had never
seen the formal statement thought to have been taken by Dewar. "He [Dewar] said she had
consented to sexual activity." Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh:
"He told you that but you never saw anything in writing?" "Yes," replied Judge
McDonald. After the second trial was
aborted, Judge McDonald said he was angered by Dewar's suggestion that the
crown prosecutor knew what was going to be said. Judge McDonald demanded a written
explanation, which he had never done before. In it Dewar admitted the lawyer
had no prior knowledge. The case ·
Former Rotorua CIB chief John Dewar faces four charges of attempting
to obstruct or defeat the course of justice between 1993 and 1995. ·
Louise Nicholas had alleged she was the victim of rape at the hands of
a policeman, who has permanent name suppression. ·
The policeman's first two trials were aborted after Dewar gave
inadmissible evidence, and at the third trial he was acquitted. |
