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Allegations of abuse
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Home / police allegations / Rickards,
Shipton, Schollum vs Jane Doe Page 3 - 2007 Trial of
Rickards, Shipton, Schollum - Verdict Not Guilty |
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Clint Rickards is to remain
suspended while Police work through employment issues with him. Assistant Police Commissioner
Rickards, who was head of Auckland Police, was today found not guilty in the
High court at Auckland of kidnapping and indecently assaulting a then
16-year-old girl in 1983 or 1984. He was also found not guilty last
year of 20 charges including the rape and sexual violation of Louise Nicholas
when she was a teenager in Rotorua in the 1980s. In a statement today, police said
Mr Rickards would remain on suspension until employment matters had been
sorted out. Deputy Police Commissioner Rob
Pope said: "The last three years have been a difficult time for everyone
concerned - for the complainant, the defendant and his family and the police
inquiry team. "The allegations made were
very serious and had to be placed before the Court in order for justice to be
done." Mr Pope said the case had
naturally been of concern to all police staff. "Now that the criminal case
has gone through the full process we move into the employment issues phase. "This will take some time to
complete though we will move as quickly as possible. Mr Rickards will remain
on suspension during this process. "I do not wish to prejudice
that process by providing further public commentary at this point. A bit more
patience will be required before we can put all these issues behind us." |
