|
This page last updated June 1 2007
Feb 25 2007 - Opinion - Michael Laws: Police will
be biggest loser
A deep
unease surrounds this trial. For the reek of political prosecution attends
proceedings. The Wellington
shadow is everywhere - part police HQ and part political correctness….. The
greatest unease is the process by which this case ever came to trial. There was the revelation that the
complainant was determined, she said under oath, to get the conviction that
Louise Nicholas could not
The trial does raise the wider issue of historical sexual abuse charges.
Should there be a statute of limitation that applies given that so many
descend into he said/she said circularity? At which stage the onus of proof -
and the need to convict beyond reasonable doubt - apply their own symmetry. A
good example is the Louise Nicholas trial. No other verdict than "not
guilty" was obvious from the opening addresses because there were no
witnesses and there was no physical evidence
2007-0225 - Sunday Star Times - Police
will be biggest loser in Rickards' trial
Feb 22 2007 - Steve McDowell, Sharon Shipton,
testify for defence
Defence
witnesses Steve McDowell and Sharon Shipton
McDowell
told the court he remembered Rickards having a cast on through Christmas and
remembered a second cast, which had a hinge, allowing the knee to move.
"He could not support himself without a crutch and it was sometime into the
New Year when he could walk freely."
Sharon Shipton has told the court her husband grew a moustache in 1982 and
did not shave it off until the mid 1990's. The complainant earlier told the
court she had a relationship with Shipton in late 1983 and early 1984 and he
was clean shaven the entire time
2007-0222 - Stuff - Rickards says
sex claims accuser lying
2007-0222 - Three News - Former
All Black gives evidence in sex abuse trial
2007-0222 - Radio NZ - Rickards
asked in sex trial about being practised witness
2007-0222 - Newstalk ZB - A surprise
witness has been called at the trial of three men
2007-0223 - NZ Herald - All Black
great backs Rickards' evidence
Feb 22 2007 - Rickards under cross examination
 Prosecutor Brent Stanaway claims Rickards
is an experienced liar as he spent two years as an undercover officer, living
a lie day in and day out. Rickards responded by saying he only ever lied to
the criminal fraternity and always told the truth on the stand as a Crown
witness
Brent Stanaway
2007-0222 - Newstalk ZB -
Rickards painted as trained liar
2007-0222 - Three News -
Rickards takes the stand
2007-0222 - Radio NZ - Rickards
asked in sex trial about being practised witness
2007-0222 - One News - Rickards
calm in witness box
2007-0223 - NZ Herald - All Black
great backs Rickards' evidence
Feb 22 2007 - Clint Rickards gives evidence in his
own defence
 Refutes allegations - "does not know the
woman"… "The allegations are not true" … "I have never
known the woman". The woman's evidence led him to the "conclusion
she was lying"
Major
knee operation - The court heard Rickards had major surgery in
October 1983, and was in plaster from his thigh to his ankle for several
weeks, and on crutches for several weeks after that. This contradicted the
complainant's evidence that she met him several times at a local Cobb and Co
restaurant and police bar over this time. She never remembered seeing him in
plaster, crutches or hobbling.
Photograph
of Clint Rickards in 1983
In the plaster cast the complainant "could not recall"
Uniformed
officer - he was a uniformed police officer and would not have been
in plain clothes as the woman alleges
2007-0222 - NZ Herald -
Rickards: I never knew woman accusing me of assault
2007-0222 - One News - Rickards
takes the stand at trial
2007-0222 - Stuff - Rickards
says he never met alleged victim until last year
2007-0222 - Stuff - Rickards says
sex claims accuser lying
2007-0222 - Newstalk ZB -
Rickards claims never knew woman
2007-0222 - Radio NZ - Rickards
takes stand in police officers' sex trial
2007-0222 - NZPA - Rickards uses
family photo in evidence
Feb 22 2007 - Rickards due to take stand
Clint
Rickards expected to give evidence
2007-0222 - Radio NZ - Rickards due
to take stand in police officers' sex trial
2007-0222 - Newswire - Rickards Due
To Take Stand In Police Officers' Sex Trial
2007-0222 - Three News -
Rickards expected to take the stand today
2007-0222 - Manawatu
Standard - Rickards on stand
Feb 21 2007 - Rickards claimed that police
interview was an unfair ambush
Detective
Senior Sergeant Roy McGregor giving evidence. He charged Clint Rickards with
kidnapping and indecent assault, but would not tell Rickards who the
complainant was. John Haigh suggested "it was the old ambush
strategy". Mr McGregor said it was "strategic"
2007-0222 - NZ Herald -
Police interview was an unfair ambush, says Rickards
Feb 21 2007 - Cross examination of complainant
continues
Shipton's defence lawyer Bill Nabney claims the woman making the allegations
kept in contact with Brad Shipton for several years after the date of the
alleged incident, as her new phone number was found in his police notebook.
The woman says there is no way she would have given her number to Shipton.
Schollum's lawyer Paul Mabey
QC has cross-examined the
complainant, claiming she has continued to add details to her statement over
the past two years, in a concerted effort to have the men convicted. The
woman admits making mistakes in a statement two years ago.
Mr Mabey asked why her recollection during this trial was different to
earlier comments she had made. The woman said "I know poor Louise
Nicholas lost her case and I am trying damn hard to make sure these guys are
done."
2007-0221 - Newstalk ZB -
Police assault trial continues
2007-0221 - Newstalk ZB - Woman
wants accused men convicted
2007-0221 - One News - Woman
challenged in police trial
2007-0221 - Three News -
Complainant admits to making mistakes in statement
2007-0221 - NZ Herald - I want
conviction Louise Nicholas didn't get, woman tells court
2007-0221 - Stuff - Woman wants
conviction for 'poor Louise'
2007-0221 - Radio NZ -
Complainant: not lying or embellishing
2007-0221 - Radio NZ - Plaintiff
'trying hard' to ensure accused trio convicted
2007-0221 - Three News -
Complainant finishes testimony after two days in the stand
2007-0222 - NZ Herald - Accuser
says she is trying 'damn hard' for conviction
2007-0222 - Dominion Post -
Accuser 'made up police sex evidence'
Feb 21 2007 - Summary of second day, Feb 20
Prosecution
case: Claimant says Rickards was the last person she saw with a set of
handcuffs before they were used to chain her to a bedpost while she was
sexually violated. But she also admits being unable to identify him from a
photograph taken at the same time in the 1980s. She was asked if she could
have mistaken Rickards and replied "I have no doubt in my mind
whatsoever. I know it was Clint," She said she did not complain because
nobody would believe her.
Clint
Rickards (rear) and
his lawyer, John Haigh
Defence
cross examination: John Haigh, challenged a number of
contradictions in her police statements and previous court appearances. He
asked the woman how - despite Rickards serving as a uniformed officer and
being on crutches and in a plaster cast for much of the time during which the
alleged incident occurred - she could not recall seeing him incapacitated and
only claimed to have seen him in plain clothes. He told the woman her
accumulated inconsistencies showed she simply could not be believed and she was
"embellishing, constructing as she went along".
2007-0221 - NZ Herald - Woman
chained to bed, court told
2007-0221 - Stuff - Sex-abuse claim
woman 'embellishing' - defence
2007-0221 - Newstalk ZB -
Cross examination continues in assault case
2007-0221 - Newswire - Alleged
Victim To Face More Questioning Today
Feb 20 2007 - Cross-examination of complainant
begins in afternoon
The
lawyer for Clint Rickards says the woman changed her story as she went along
- she made things up and embellished the truth to make a case for herself..
Under cross examination, John Haigh QC asked the woman why she had originally
told police she was in a sexual relationship with Rickards for six months,
but later said she had never had intercourse with him.
Mr Haigh says the woman's story is not consistent, the incident never took
place and claims she did not even know his client. He claimed that Clint
Rickards has been misidentified. The court was adjourned after the
complainant became upset while testifying.
2007-0220 - Three News -
Cross-examination in Rickards, Shipton and Schollum case
2007-0220 - Newstalk ZB - Claims
cops laughed in alleged assault
2007-0220 - Three News -
Rickards, Shipton and Schollum trial continues
2007-0220 - Three News - Woman
breaks down under cross-examination
2007-0220 - Three News - Day of
evidence from complainant in sexual assault case
2007-0220 - Newstalk ZB - Doubt
cast on police accuser's evidence
Feb 20 2007 - More evidence from complainant
The
complainant described how she struggled with the three men before they
allegedly attacked her. before the alleged indecent assault with a bottle the
accused said "For such a little thing she is a fighter." The complainant
reafully described how the three police officers laughed: "It was like a
joke for them"
2007-0220 - NZ Herald - Girl
described as 'a fighter' before sexual attack, court told
2007-0220 - Stuff - Cops 'laughed as
they forced bottle into me'
2007-0220 - Newswire -
Complainant In Tears Giving Evidence
2007-0220 - One News - Jury hears
police assaulted teen
Feb 20 2007 - Summary of first day, Feb 19
Prosecution
case: Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh told the court how the girl was in a
consensual sexual relationship with Shipton when she was taken to a house in
Rotorua where the men and two others she also thought to be police officers
were drinking. Mr Zarifeh said she was handed a drink and the men implied
they were going to have sex with her, which she refused. Shipton then said
something like "she wasn't going to go willingly" and she was
picked up and taken to a bedroom struggling and screaming. Shipton allegedly
straddled the girl - who was about 1.52m in height and weighed around 50kg -
and passed some handcuffs to either Rickards or Schollum, who were standing
on either side. The other two men were also in the room with one of them
pacing about
Defence
opening statements: John
Haigh, QC, for Rickards, said his defence was simple: "There was no
incident ... He did not know this woman before the incident, he did not know
her after and he does not know her today." Bill Nabney, for Shipton,
said he denied any such incident took place, although he admitted knowing
her. Paul Mabey, QC, for Schollum said his client also denied involvement in
any such incident.
2007-0220 - NZ Herald - Rickards
denies kidnapping and indecent assault
2007-0220 - Dominion Post -
Rickards in court on further sex charges
2007-0220 - Three News -
Rickards trial continues today
Feb 19 2007 - Case opens
Prosecutor
Mark Zarifeh has opened his case. At the time of the alleged incident the
complainant, now aged 39 was 16. The allegations are that the complainant was
forced into a room, pinned down by the three men, handcuffed and then
sexually assaulted with a bottle. The woman alleged she was screaming and
struggling. The three men deny the event ever took place. They all loudly
denied the charges.
2007-0219 - Newstalk ZB - Case
opens against police accused
2007-0219 - Newstalk ZB - Former
cops deny assault
2007-0219 - NZ Herald - New trial
under way for assistant commissioner and ex-cops
2007-0219 - One News - Former
officers on trial again
2007-0219 - Radio NZ - Court hears
evidence from complainant in police rape trial
2007-0219 - Newswire - Court hears
evidence from complainant in police rape trial
Supporting wives:
Caron Schollum, Sharon Shipton, Tania Eden
Feb 19 2007 - Jury selected
The
judge Judith Potter has strongly urged the jury of eight men and four women to
disregard anything they've heard about the accused outside the court
2007-0219 - Radio NZ - Jury
selection begins in trial for police trio re 1983-84 sex charges
2007-0219 - Three News - Jury
selected for trial of assistant police commissioner
2007-0219 -
Newstalk ZB - Rickards, Shipton, Schollum jury picked
Feb 17 2007 - Pre trial publicity
Clint
Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum begin another trial on 19 February.
The three men have already faced a trial associated with allegations by
Louise Nicholas, and were acquitted. The new trial related to allegations by
another woman, about offences alleged to have occurred in the 1980s. Two of
the men have been receiving legal aid.
2007-0217 - NZ Herald - Acquitted
Rickards faces more sex charges
2007-0217 - Stuff - Clint Rickards
due to stand trial again on Monday
2007-0218 - Sunday Star Times - Rape trial
cops used $250,000
2007-0219 -
Newstalk ZB - Rickards, Shipton, Schollum on trial again
2007-0219 - Newswire - Another
Trial For Police Trio Over 1980s Sex Charges
2007-0219 - One News - Former
police on trial again
2007-0219 - Radio NZ - Another
trial for police trio re 1980s sex charges
Louise
Nicholas. Also made allegations
against the accused
All were acquitted in a 2006 trial
|
