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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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It can now be revealed that two of
the three men found not guilty in the latest police sexual assault case are
currently in prison for the rape of a woman in Mt Maunganui in 1989. Suppression orders have been
lifted over Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum’s previous convictions for
historical sex offences. They are two of the four men sent
to prison in 2005 for the abduction and rape of a woman in Mt Maunganui in
1989. Shipton and Schollum, along with
assistant police commissioner Clint Rickards, were today found not guilty of
kidnapping and indecently assaulting a woman in Rotorua when she was
16-years-old. As the verdicts were read out at
the High Court in Auckland, a large crowd of the men's supporters broke into
applause and tears in the public gallery. The complainant in the case
appeared distraught and had to be helped from the courtroom. While Clint Rickards is a free
man, it can now be revealed that Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum are convicted
rapists, who are still serving jail terms. Outside court, Clint Rickards said
he is proud to be a member of the police, but he is ashamed of the way the
investigation was carried out. He says he is looking forward to
returning to work in Auckland as soon as possible, although he is to remain
on suspension for the time being. Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope
says now the criminal case has been concluded the police can deal with Mr
Rickards' employment issues and will do so as quickly as possible. He says the allegations made were
very serious and had to be placed before the court in order for justice to be
done. |
