Police cover-up allegations: 'Inquiry should have happened 10 years ago'

By JULIE MIDDLETON

Louise Nicholas is "stoked" that the Government has announced a commission of inquiry into her historic rape allegations.

Yesterday afternoon, as the news broke, husband Ross rushed to the farm where his wife works, "dragged me out of the cowshed and told me they were reopening the criminal investigation. I just burst into tears".

"It should have happened 10 years ago and I've had to wait this long for them to do it ... "

She pauses, stifles a sob. "But it's happening and that's all good."

Mrs Nicholas, 36, says the alleged rape, in 1986 when she was 18, left her suspicious of police officers and their motives.

"Every time I saw a police car or a uniform ... the hairs on the back of my neck would stand on end. That's how I've been. I've always had this fear."

She has also suffered "horrendous nightmares. I've had to bury them, because, as you know, nobody believed me. I've left them buried for a very long time".

Mrs Nicholas appears remarkably assured and confident given that her saga is now 18 years old and has now thrust her into the public eye.

"You just learn to keep on living and live your life as normally as you can."

Still, there are times "when I know I'm losing it, and I have to walk outside ... "

Nothing has been hidden from the couple's three children, aged 14, 12 and 9. "They know everything - absolutely everything. Ross and I have held absolutely nothing back. It's helped them too."

Mrs Nicholas doesn't bear any grudges against police, and doesn't think anyone else should.

"I'm quite sure that 90 per cent of the New Zealand police force are all good. New Zealand should be really proud of what these guys do - I know their job is hard."

However, Mrs Nicholas is aware some will be painting her as the villain.

"I do believe that there are some people out there saying some pretty nasty things because they don't know me. But that's their opinions and they are entitled to that."

The Nicholas family live on a lifestyle block with a community of roughly 12 families who call it "the village".

Mrs Nicholas helps with milking on a nearby farm; the family raise a few sheep and calves. Ross Nicholas, 39, is a milk tanker driver.

Rotorua-born Mrs Nicholas was number three of four children; the others were all boys.

Her mother says that as a teenager, her daughter was "a very outgoing young lady. She was a typical teenager, but she never gave us any trouble or worries".


Mrs Nicholas left school aged 15. She got a job in a bank, and by 21 was married to Ross.

People from Mrs Nicholas' past - staff of Rangitahi College in Murupara, neighbours, childhood friends - describe her as a friendly woman from an ordinary NZ family.

Rex Miller met Mrs Nicholas when she was in her mid-20s and he was a detective chief inspector: his job was to investigate the police inquiry into her claims of rape.

"I felt she was naive and very vulnerable," says Mr Miller, now retired. "But she was very definite ... she wasn't being evasive."

Step-by-step guide to rape allegations

1986: Rotorua teenager Louise Nicholas, 18, is allegedly raped and violated by three police officers. The men are Clint Rickards, now Auckland City police commander; Brad Shipton, now a Tauranga District councillor; and Bob Schollum, now a Napier car dealer.

1993: Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Sir John Jeffries investigates the police handling of a separate sexual misconduct allegation by Mrs Nicholas - also involving police.

1993: Mrs Nicholas complains to the then Rotorua CIB chief Detective Inspector John Dewar about her alleged rape by Mr Rickards, Mr Shipton and Mr Schollum. Mr Dewar begins investigating.

1993: A month after hearing Mrs Nicholas' claims, Mr Dewar takes another statement from her, in which she indicates the sex was consensual.

1995: Police Complaints Authority launches an investigation into the police handling of a sexual misconduct case which was criticised at the time by the trial judge. Detective Chief Inspector Rex Miller discovers that Mr Dewar failed to record a formal statement in relation to Mrs Nicholas' complaint against Mr Rickards and the two other men.

1995: PCA investigation finds insufficient evidence to prompt a criminal investigation into the rape allegations. Preliminary report by Sir John Jeffries finds the complaint should be cleared as "not established".

1995: Margaret Craig, a sexual abuse counsellor who dealt with Mrs Nicholas, writes to police headquarters expressing concern about Mr Dewar's influence on her client.

1997: Despite knowing of the allegations against Mr Rickards, Rob Robinson, who was assistant commissioner overseeing the Midlands region at the time and is now Police Commissioner, promotes Mr Rickards to become the country's youngest police chief, in the Gisborne district.

2000: Prime Minister Helen Clark is told about the allegations against Mr Rickards when he is a contender for deputy commissioner (a statutory appointment). He is not appointed.

2001: Mr Robinson, now commissioner, promotes Mr Rickards to assistant commissioner, bringing him to headquarters to run a troubleshooting support team for him.

2004: On January 1, Mr Rickards becomes head of the Auckland City police district.

SATURDAY: Mrs Nicholas goes public with her allegations, saying she was manipulated to protect her attackers.

SUNDAY: Helen Clark asks for advice on an urgent inquiry and reveals the sex allegations were a factor in a job decision involving Mr Rickards.

SUNDAY: Mr Rickards, Mr Shipton and Mr Schollum all deny the rape allegations against them.

SUNDAY: Mr Rickards takes three weeks' leave, saying he expects to return "as normal" to work after an inquiry. Mr Dewar firmly denies all allegations of wrongdoing and says he fully investigated all complaints by Mrs Nicholas.

YESTERDAY: Helen Clark announces a commission of inquiry into the allegations.

YESTERDAY: Mr Robinson says Mr Rickards has been stood down pending the outcome of a reopened criminal investigation.

YESTERDAY: Mr Rickards says he will fight the allegations to his last breath.