Rapist back in court against TVNZ

Nicholas Reekie. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A man serving a minimum 25-year jail term for serial rape was back in court yesterday in a civil action against Television New Zealand over a documentary screened early last year.

Nicholas Reekie was sentenced to preventive detention in 2003 with a minimum non-parole period of 25 years after being convicted on 31 charges, including abduction and rape.

The offences involved four female victims, aged between 11 and 69.

Another man, David Dougherty, was earlier wrongly jailed for the 1992 abduction and rape of the 11-year-old girl. He was cleared by DNA evidence.

Yesterday the High Court in Auckland heard his second civil appeal against TVNZ over the documentary Until Proven Innocent which portrayed the case against David Dougherty.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority rejected his earlier complaints that it was unfair on him and inaccurate but it was broadcast again with minor changes and Reekie filed another complaint and another appeal when the complaint was rejected a second time.

The appeal before Justice Raynor Asher took most of the day and a decision was reserved.

- NZPA