|
Allegations of abuse
by NZ Police |
|
|
peterellis
Home / police allegations / Rickards,
Shipton, Schollum vs Jane Doe Page 3 - 2007 Trial of
Rickards, Shipton, Schollum - Verdict Not Guilty |
|
|
Clint Rickards outside court Clint Rickards and the families of
Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton have lashed out at the police who conducted the
investigation against them. The suspended Assistant Police
Commissioner and former police officers have been acquitted of kidnapping and
indecent assault by a jury of eight men and four women at the High Court in
Auckland. The same three men were acquitted of raping Rotorua woman Louise
Nicholas. Now that the verdicts have been
delivered, suppression orders surrounding the case have been lifted. They
include the fact that Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum are both serving jail
terms for rape. They were convicted in 2005 for the rape and kidnapping of a
20-year-old woman at Mt Maunganui 18-years ago. The victim said four men
lured her into a hut on the pretext of having a lunch date with one of the
men. Once there she was bound, raped, forced to perform oral sex and brutally
violated. The men maintained it was consensual sex. Shipton was sentenced to
eight and a half years and Schollum to eight years. Both have been taken back
to jail after today's not guilty verdict. Speaking outside the court after
today's verdicts, Mr Rickards says he is glad he has been vindicated. He says
his priority is to rebuild his family, as the case has been devastating. Mr
Rickards' wife Tania says she is glad the ordeal is now finally over. She
says they are an ordinary Kiwi family that has been through hell over the
last three years. Tania Rickards says she and her husband want to get back to
looking after their children. Mr Rickards' lawyer John Haigh QC has praised
the verdicts saying justice has been done and the jury was courageous. Mr Rickards says he is disgusted
at how the investigation was carried out. He believes the team which carried
out the investigation are a shambles and need to be investigated themselves.
He says he would have been ashamed to lead the team. Bob Schollum's brother Paul says
he has always maintained his brother's innocence. Mr Schollum says the way
the police conducted their inquiry leaves a lot to be desired. Brad Shipton's
brother believes there were political motives behind the charges against
Clint Rickards. Greg Shipton says there are some serious questions which need
to be answered. He says Helen Clark, the Police Association and the police hierarchy
need to right some wrongs which he feels were handed out to Mr Rickards. Mr
Shipton alleges Mr Rickards was persecuted to prevent him becoming the first
Maori police commissioner. Clint Rickards told media he now
wants to return to his job. Police national headquarters says Mr Rickards
will remain suspended while employment issues over the case are investigated.
That is expected to take some time. But Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope
says they will move as quickly as possible. He says the last three years have
been a difficult time for everyone concerned; for the complainant, the
defendant and his family, as well as the police inquiry team. Mr Pope says
the allegations were very serious and had to be placed before the court in
order for justice to be done. He is not commenting further, saying he does
not want to prejudice the employment process, but he asked for patience until
all the issues can be put behind them. |
