A suspended police recruit cleared three months ago of a brutal rape is still waiting to see if police will reinstate him, or if he will have to fight for his job.
The 33-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged in 2005 with theattack on Christchurch prostitute Jacqueline Howat, after a fingerprint match during a routine police training exercise linked him to the house the victim was working from.
He was immediately stood down from his police training on full pay.
However the recruit always maintained he did not choke and rape Ms Howat, and after a district court trial in Christchurch in August, a jury agreed and found him not guilty.
The recruit is seeking to go back and complete his police training and is being supported by the Police Association in his bid.
Police Association regional director Craig Prior said the recruit had made some submissions to police national headquarters, but it was yet to come back with a position on the matter. Police bosses had indicated "a couple of things they have a problem with". But it was still unclear whether they wanted to terminate the recruit's employment, reinstate him or "anything in between".
"The ball is in their court," Mr Prior said.
If police did oppose his returning to his training, the recruit could face a tribunal hearing similar to that facing suspended Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards.
