Not guilty (Police sex case verdict, 1 March)

[Hitcher]

I thought that was general knowledge? It was certainly well publicised on the net at the time of the trial

It was amongst a bunch of stuff that had been suppressed by the Court. Hence my concerns (wearing my Mods hat) as to what was discussed on this site. It's all out in the open now, thank goodness.

[RantyDave]

The comment made by the second complainant that she 'wanted to get the guilty verdict that Louise Nicholls didn't get' really switched me off to the whole debacle.

Exactly. She said that, it became obvious that she was pulling a "vigilante" historic rape, and from that point on everyone just had to play it by the book to ensure there wasn't a retrial. Doesn't matter what you think of these three (almost certainly) huge arseholes, in cases such as rape you're going to have to prove it ... and for good reason too.

Dave

[MSTRS:Me]

I was amongst a bunch of stuff that had been suppressed by the Court. ....

Really? Can't keep a good man down (for long) eh?

[Hitcher]

Employment Issues to Be Addressed Now Criminal Case Concluded
New Zealand Police National News Release
12:47pm 1 March 2007
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=2888

--

Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope, said that following the acquittal of Clint Rickards in the Auckland High Court today Police would now move to address employment issues.

"The last three years have been a difficult time for everyone concerned - for the complainant, the defendant and his family and the police inquiry team.

"The allegations made were very serious and had to be placed before the Court in order for justice to be done."

Mr Pope said the case had naturally been of concern to all police staff.

"Now that the criminal case has gone through the full process we move into the employment issues phase. This will take some time to complete though we will move as quickly as possible. Mr Rickards will remain on suspension during this process".

"I do not wish to prejudice that process by providing further public commentary at this point. A bit more patience will be required before we can put all these issues behind us," said Mr Pope.

[terbang]

I thought that was general knowledge? It was certainly well publicised on the net at the time of the trial

Well yes but that was the supressed evidence (or whatever) on the last case. Every time I (then) even eluded to it on this forum the posts were snipped by a mod (thats the rules). Those two arseholes, Shipton and Schollum, were allready in jail for rape when the Louise Nicholas case happened. Believe what yer like on the recent verdicts and the purity of the law on these two cases but we all know that these guys abused their powers as policemen and have raped (thats why they are in jail).
You could easily make a Tui ad out of this one..

[SPman]

That was the case a while back, I heard they are appealing. .

Have you see the photos - they wouldn't appeal to Dover or Finn after a week on the turps!

[MisterD]

Well yes but that was the supressed evidence (or whatever) on the last case. Every time I (then) even eluded to it on this forum the posts were snipped by a mod (thats the rules). Those two arseholes, Shipton and Schollum, were allready in jail for rape when the Louise Nicholas case happened. Believe what yer like on the recent verdicts and the purity of the law on these two cases but we all know that these guys abused their powers as policemen and have raped (thats why they are in jail).
You could easily make a Tui ad out of this one..

I'm starting to give more credence to the (Maori) conspiracy theorists that reckon the last two trials were an attempted political hatchet-job on Rickards by the "sisterhood". There was bugger all evidence against him on this one, and Shipton and Schollum were there to try for a guilty by association result...

[terbang]

But I think it is unwise of you to to think that because someone has been found guilty on an incident and then charged in a similar incident to assume they are guilty because of that previous conviction

There are definate patterns to some peoples behaviour (speeders and drunk drivers for a start) Rapists are just that, rapists and yet we give them the benefit of the doubt and the jury doesn't get to know who they are really looking at. this is not an assumprion of guilt, just a better view of what they are dealing with as an impeccable previous record should also impact on a case.

[elle-f]

There will be more allegations against these thugs I am sure.

[Horney1]

I don't normally go pro-police (especially in any reference to driving!) & I knew at least one real arrogant & powerhungry egotistical a/holes that joined up but in this case I want to say that I grew up in the same area as Clinton and he wasn't one of those types. I found it hard to imagine that he would do the crime he was accused of. I didn't know him well but he never really seemed to be the sort of person that would do ANYTHING bad (& that was before there were any political gains to be had). He always seemed to be a really good guy (if not a little quiet, serious & stern looking) and a community orientated leader (his judo days should attest to that). I guess we never really know people even if we are close to them but even though I haven't followed the trial closely from here in Aus and I haven't seen him since around the early seventies an accusation like this just didn't add up in my mind. The others? Well, my guess is as good as yours.

So, yes I also wonder if there was some sort of an ambush going on. I'm not pro or anti Maori but I am pro good people and Clinton just seemed to be one way back when...

[MisterD]

Good post Horney1. It's always good to have some real first-person experience rather than what seems to be based on hearsay and the (deliberately?) dodgy looking photos in the Harold.

The more I hear about the way the police encouraged this woman to make a report the more uneasy I feel, if more allegations are made against CR I'd say it's odds-on there's a Wellington-centred drive to bring him down.

[vixter]

fuckin makes me sick they are all guilty as hell arse holes

[Crasherfromwayback]

There will be more allegations against these thugs I am sure.

Unfortunately I seriously doubt it. Two women have stood up in front of a judge and a jury and laid bare all of the sordid details of just what happened to them. It can hardly have been easy. Rickards and his cronies have got away with this and the Nicholls case, and I don't think anyone else will now want to go through the harrowing process for this type of result.

The best thing is this.....the world goes round in a full circle, and not always clockwise.

[98tls]

I personally think it was a complete witch hunt and should never have gone to trial. The comment made by the second complainant that she 'wanted to get the guilty verdict that Louise Nicholls didn't get' really switched me off to the whole debacle.

If the crimes committed were so devastating and as awful as they have been reported to be, why were they not reported at the time?

And as has been pointed out, there must be no doubt in order for a guilty verdict to be arrived at. And for the community to stand and judge after a not guilty has been given....well, the witch hunt continues.

Maybe I place too much faith in the Police and the justice system, being a Policeman's daughter, but there we go.

Too many men have had their lives shattered by women who decide that what they quite willingly did is now not what they should have been doing at all, and cry rape. It's not on. Rape is forced and unconsensual - not when you've changed your mind after the event. Whether that's what happened here or not, I don't know. I wasn't there. Neither were the accused by the sounds of it.....

I wasnt/dont know either and i am not a women but if i was and a group of cops did to me what she is saying they did to her i am not sure i would want to go tell the world about it......as for faith in the police and justice system we all know its been wrong many times before........theres good cops and bad cops.......just like theres good mechanics/butchers etc etc.........and bad ones.........FWIW i have a few cops in my family.......i spoke to one an uncle.......now retired..was a detective sergeant...who new those guys years ago........his comment was they were bad apples right from the get go....his answer to wether he thought rickards was guilty.......he simply said well you only have to look were his mates are and for what reason they are there for the answer to that.........he also said that he would put money on more of this guys past deeds catching up with him sooner rather than later......personally i hope so.

[Indoo]

I think people will hopefully make their own opinions given the past history of the trio as to the proclaimed 'innocence' of Rickards and co. Being found not guilty does not always equate to innocence, it just means what it does in this case that there was insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.