Defence says Nicholas' story full of holes

The holes in the evidence of Louise Nicholas are too wide and it would be impossible to convict Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards of raping and indecently assaulting her, a jury was told today.

John Haigh, QC, defence lawyer for Rickards, said Mrs Nicholas was an attention-seeker who wanted someone to blame for a past she was ashamed of.

Rickards and two former policemen, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum, face 20 historic charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual violation brought against them by Mrs Nicholas.

All three denied the charges but have previously said they had consensual sex with her in Rotorua in the mid-1980s.

Mr Haigh asked the jury in the High Court at Auckland not to reject a critical piece of evidence that he said proved Mrs Nicholas was lying.

She alleged Rickards and Shipton visited her flat uninvited for sex between six and 12 times from September 1985 to December 1986.

She said in her evidence at the beginning of the three-week trial the two accused came to her Corlett Street flat during the day when her two flatmates were not home.

Mr Haigh referred to contradictory evidence given by Mrs Nicholas's flatmate who said it was Shipton and Schollum who came around for sex and Mrs Nicholas "certainly wasn't saying no".

Mrs Nicholas said during cross-examination that her flatmate's recollection was mistaken.

Mr Haigh said if there was ever a case which needed the highest standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt, this was it.

Lawyers for the other two men were also expected to give their closing submissions today before the jury of seven women and five men.

Justice Tony Randerson was expected to sum up tomorrow before sending the jury out to consider its verdicts.

- NZPA