KEY POINTS:
High-profile former police boss John Dewar is to appeal his conviction for attempting to cover up Louise Nicholas' rape allegations.
The self-employed father of four is also to lay a formal complaint with police, accusing Nicholas of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Dewar, 55 - who himself a month ago was found guilty of four charges of attempting to obstruct, prevent or defeat the course of justice in his handling of historic sex allegations - was expected to lodge the complaint with Police National Headquarters this week.
He is demanding a full police investigation into his claims with a view to proving there's sufficient evidence for police to mount a case against Nicholas. He also claims his complaint will highlight alleged inconsistencies in statements Nicholas has made over the years to support her rape claims.
Nicholas told the Herald on Sunday yesterday she stood behind everything she had said and did not believe there was any substance to either the appeal or the perjury complaint.
Dewar was chief inspector of the Rotorua CIB when Nicholas approached police in 1993, alleging she was sexually assaulted by police officers Clint Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum.
The Crown alleges Dewar suppressed allegations Nicholas made against the three men and attempted to pervert the course of justice during the rape trial of a former policeman, who has permanent name suppression, by giving inadmissible evidence.
Nicholas, alleged the man had sexually assaulted her, then aged 13, which led to two mistrials before a third trial acquitted him.
It was during those trials that allegations against Shipton, Schollum and Rickards first came to light.
Confirmation of the appeal and perjury complaint is Dewar's first retaliatory move since last month's trial. He is due to be sentenced on October 5 in the High Court at Hamilton with the charges carrying a maximum seven-year prison term.
Dewar told the Herald on Sunday the basis of his appeal was that Nicholas had given false testimony at his trial which had contributed towards a major miscarriage of justice.
He also confirmed he was laying three complaints of perjury against Nicholas, as well as one of making a false statement to police and another of attempting to pervert the course of justice. He is demanding the investigation be carried out by an independent Queen's Counsel.
