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Nicholas vs John Dewar |
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NZPA A woman today told a court she had
group sex with former Rotorua policemen John Dewar and Brad Shipton,
contradicting claims by Dewar that he never had more than a working
relationship with Shipton. The woman, who has permanent name
suppression, gave evidence in the High Court in Hamilton where Dewar faces
four charges of attempting to obstruct or defeat the course of justice
between 1993 and 1995. Dewar was chief inspector of the
Rotorua CIB when Louise Nicholas approached police in 1993 with two historic
sex allegations, including those against suspended assistant commissioner
Clint Rickards and former policemen Shipton and Bob Schollum. The crown alleges Dewar suppressed
allegations Mrs Nicholas made against the three men and attempted to prevent
the course of justice during the rape trial of a former policeman, who has
permanent name suppression, by giving inadmissible evidence. Mrs Nicholas alleged the man had
sexually assaulted her, then aged 13, which led to two mistrials before a
third trial acquitted him. Today a woman told the court how
she had a sexual relationship in the late 1980s with Shipton and on one
occasion, at Shipton's invitation, Dewar also joined in a group sex session
with them. The woman told the court she had
met Shipton when he was the constable in charge of the investigation into the
death of her husband in an accident. Shipton had been "very
professional" at first but a sexual relationship soon developed. The relationship, which began in
1983, led to at least six sexual encounters at her home before it was broken
off and then was resumed again in 1986. The woman said this led to Shipton
introducing Mr Rickards to her at her home in 1987, and the three took part
in group sex sessions on at least six occasions. She said she recognised Mr
Rickards from media articles because he had represented New Zealand in judo. The woman said there were other
group sex sessions, including in late 1987 or early 1988 when Shipton arrived
at her house with a man who was introduced to her as John Dewar. Shipton, who had arrived
uninvited, described Dewar as his "friend and boss", she said. The woman said that night the
three had sex in her bedroom of her Rotorua home. Dewar appeared "hesitant"
at first and Shipton "made comments to encourage him", she said. The woman said she had never met
Dewar before but had seen a newspaper article on him. Sex occurred with Dewar, without
Shipton, on one other occasion, she said. The woman came forward after she
saw a 2004 TV3 interview where Dewar said he had no close personal
relationship with Shipton. In the interview, which was played
for the jury, Dewar challenged anyone who could prove otherwise to come
forward. The woman said she was "angry
and shocked" when she saw the interview. "I knew it to be an incorrect
statement. "I had seen him in a close
and personal relationship" with Shipton, she said. The woman said after discussing
with her family and friends what to do, she had a friend leave a message on
Mrs Nicholas' phone. She used the friend to contact Mrs
Nicholas, who she had never met, so "I would not be accused of making up
the story." The woman was then approached by a
TV One reporter, who interviewed her, hiding her identity, which was
broadcast. About two weeks later she made a
statement to police and was "worried about my safety" if she came
forward. The woman told crown prosecutor
Brent Stanaway she "definitely challenged" the comments Dewar made
in the interview, saying Dewar definitely knew Shipton in a close and
personal way. Under cross-examination, defence
lawyer Paul Mabey QC said the woman had got "the wrong man" after
so many years had passed. "I'm telling you that on both
nights at my house he was definitely that man sitting there," she
replied indicating to Dewar in the court. Mr Mabey said "whatever the
truth is Mr Dewar has never been to your house and has never had anything to
do with you at all." "That's definitely not
correct," she replied. Mr Mabey said in May of 1988
Shipton had left Rotorua and was living in Tauranga. When asked if she knew that in
late 1987 and early 1988 Dewar was not Shipton's boss the woman said she had
not known that at the time. The woman said she could only
repeat what Shipton told her: "I don't know if what he said was
true." Mr Mabey questioned whether the
newspaper article the woman claimed to have seen before she met Dewar,
existed. The article could not be found, he
said. The trial continues tomorrow. |
