Auckland trial for trio in Louise Nicholas case

An Auckland jury will decide the fate of three men accused of pack-raping Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas nearly 20 years ago.

Clinton John Tukotahi Rickards, 44, a senior police officer, and two former policemen, Bradley Keith Shipton, 47, and Robert Francis Schollum, 53, face a total of 20 charges of rape, indecent assault and unlawful sexual connection.

In the High Court at Rotorua yesterday Justice John Priestley ordered the trial moved to Auckland but the reasons were suppressed. Pre-trial applications will be heard in Auckland on October 25.