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Allegations of abuse
by NZ Police |
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peterellis
Home / police allegations / Rickards,
Shipton, Schollum vs Jane Doe Page 5 - Further Reaction to
Not Guilty Verdict |
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Taxpayers face a bill of almost $7
million for the police investigation and eventual prosecution of Clint
Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum - with more bills to come. Legal Services has so far paid
$119,029 in legal fees for Schollum's defence in last year's Louise Nicholas
trial and this week's trial. Shipton has so far received $152,045 in legal
aid. A source said more bills were due
to arrive for the men's defence and were expected to run to "tens of
thousands of dollars each". As of last March, police had spent
$3,087,131 on Operation Austin, the investigation into alleged misconduct by
Rotorua police in the 1980s. That is the latest cost available and the amount
is rising. Crown Law spent $176,000
unsuccessfully prosecuting Mr Rickards, Schollum and Shipton in the Louise
Nicholas case. The bill for the latest trial is expected this month. A commission of inquiry launched
into the matter in 2004 is due to report back to the Governor-General in a
few weeks. At least $3.2 million has so far been spent on the inquiry and
that is expected to blow out to more than $4 million by the time it is
completed. |
