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Home / police allegations / Rickards,
Shipton, Schollum vs Jane Doe Page 4 - Initial Reaction to
Not Guilty Verdict |
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A top Suspended Assistant Police
Commissioner Clint Rickards and former police officers Brad Shipton and Bob
Schollum were found not guilty on kidnapping and indecent assault charges. The case is one of several
multimillion dollar trials into historical claims that have failed to get a
conviction. Defence lawyer Gary Gotlieb
believes the women who made the accusations should not have been allowed
their day in court. "The complainant really
should go to the police earlier," Gotlieb says. However, Louise NichoIas
told Close Up she is convinced she did the right thing in 2004 when she went
public with historic claims of rape against Rickards, Shipton and Schollum. "If I had to do it all over
again I would not hesitate," Nicholas said. But Gotlieb wants a 10 year expiry
date on rape allegations, sparking debate in the legal fraternity. "I think 10 years is possibly
too short...I think that people...or possibly young people when they grow up
should be allowed to bring these cases to court. Perhaps 15, 20 years,"
says Graeme Newell from the Criminal Bar Association. Gotlieb represented former Kaitaia
constable Timothy Ogle who was acquitted of rape last year - 19 years after
the alleged incident. "It took us a year to find a very important
witness," he said. "Others had disappeared." In "There are a number of cases
where we have no doubt at all about the guilt of the offender even though
it's been a very long time ago," says But Gotlieb says it has become a
PC issue about women and the rights of the male accused have been forgotten. Others say there needs to be a change
to the eight year minimum imprisonment for rape, believing juries might be
quicker to convict because they would not be so concerned about a very heavy
penalty in circumstances where they think it is not warranted. Transcript Presenter Some of
the country's top lawyers are now demanding a time limit on rape allegations.
Clint Rickard's case is one of several multi million dollar trials into
historical claims that have failed to get a conviction Reporter
(Jacobina Plummer), (Video of complainant leaving court March 1 2007 She
didn't need to say a word to tell the country how she felt, but one of Gary
Gotlieb The
complainant really should go to the police earlier. That's the long and the
short of it Louise
Nicholas I know
I've done the right thing and I would, if I had to do it all over again, I
would Reporter But Gary
Gotlieb's call for a ten year expiry date on rape allegations has sparked
debate in the legal fraternity Graeme
Newell, Criminal Bar Association I think
10 years is possibly too short...I think that people...or possibly young
people when they grow up should be allowed to bring these cases to court. Perhaps
fifteen, twenty years Reporter Gary
Gotlieb represented former Kaitaia constable Timothy Ogle, acquitted of rape
last year 19 years after the alleged incident. Gary
Gotlieb It took
us a year to find a very important witness. Others had disappeared Reporter Currently
in Jeremy
Finn There are
a number of cases where we have no doubt at all about the guilt of the
offender even though it's been a very long time ago Gary
Gotlieb This
whole PC thing the poor woman lets just lay the charge at any time whatever.
Well sorry, the poor accused person also has to have some rights and that's
just been forgotten Reporter Others
say what's needed is a change to the eight year minimum imprisonment for rape Graeme
Newell Then
juries might be quicker to convict because they wouldn't be so concerned
about a very heavy penalty, perhaps eight years imprisonment, in
circumstances where they thought it wasn't warranted. It may be for that
reason that they don't convict. Reporter A debate
this latest case looks to fuel further. Jacobina Plummer, One News |
