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Nicholas vs John Dewar |
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By Belinda McCammon
'GIFTED SEX': Former Rotorua CIB
chief John Dewar received an "unusual gift" from either Brad
Shipton or Clint Rickards in the form of group sex, the High Court in
Hamilton was told today. Former Rotorua policeman John
Dewar was "gifted" a group sex session, the High Court in Hamilton
was told today. Dewar, 55 of Hamilton, 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 Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum. The Crown alleges Dewar suppressed
allegations Mrs Nicholas made against the three men and attempted to pervert
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, when aged 13, which led to two mistrials before a
third trial acquitted him. Today the court heard evidence
from police Inspector Alastair Williams who said Dewar had told him about
receiving an "unusual gift" from either Shipton or Rickards in the
form of group sex. Mr Williams said he could not
recall if it was Shipton or Rickards but that it was one of the two men, who
along with Dewar took part in the group sex session with a woman. Mr Williams said Dewar told him
Dewar was invited along to a woman's house and told to "wait in the
shadows" until either Shipton or Rickards knocked on the woman's door
and told her he had a surprise for her. At that point Dewar had been
instructed to come out from the shadows and was introduced to the woman, he
said Dewar had told him. Mr Williams said Dewar had said
that he and the woman, along with either Shipton or Rickards, went inside the
woman's house and had sex. Yesterday a woman, who has name
suppression, told the court she had group sex on one occasion with Dewar and Brad
Shipton. Under cross-examination from Paul
Mabey QC, Mr Williams was questioned whether his recollection of who was
allegedly involved in the group sex had been prompted by media reports about
Shipton, Rickards and Schollum and complaints of sexual misconduct at the
time. Mr Williams replied "No, a
lot of names were in the media at the time. "I recall at the time these
two names came back to me." Mr Mabey asked if his memory had
been triggered by the publication of the men's names. Mr Williams said he recalled Dewar
telling him that he had been given the gift. Superintendent Mark Lammas told
the court Dewar had failed to follow the standards of practise for serving
officers, when allegations or a complaint against a serving police officer
was made. Mr Lammas said an allegation
involving sexual misconduct and a baton would be "at the top end of the
scale". "In 1993 it needed to be
reported through to the District Commander so he could make a decision over
what action should follow." When asked by crown prosecutor
Brent Stanaway whether it mattered what the views of the complainant were, Mr
Lammas said no. "Because the allegations were
so serious, police need to undertake at least a preliminary
investigation." Mr Lammas said he could not think
of any circumstance where any allegations of rape against a police officer
would not be investigated. Mr Lammas said there was no room
in this specific instance for Dewar to have exercised discretion and that he
should have referred the allegations on to the District Commander. Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen
McGregor, the Officer in Charge of Operation Austin, said he had observed
Dewar on several occasions at the previous trials involving Shipton, Schollum
and Mr Rickards, interacting with the men and their family and friends at the
court. At one trial Dewar, who had been
watching in the public gallery, gave Shipton the "thumbs-up", as
they both smiled at each other, as Shipton was being led back into the cells.
The defence will open on Monday
and it is expected Dewar will take the stand as the only defence witness. - NZPA |
