High Court to hear police pack rape case

Assistant Police Commissioner Clinton Rickards, seen here arriving at Rotorua courthouse, denies the charges. Picture / Amos Chapple

One of New Zealand's highest ranking policemen and two former police officers were today committed to stand trial before the High Court on historical allegations of pack rape.

Assistant Commissioner Clinton John Tukotahi Rickards, 44, faces eight charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual violation.

Former policemen Bradley Keith Shipton, 47, and Robert Francis Schollum, 53, are charged with eight and four counts of rape, indecent assault and sexual violation respectively.

Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas alleges she was sexually abused in 1986, when she was 18, by the three police officers who were based in Rotorua at the time.

Following a two-day depositions hearing in Rotorua District Court Judge Chris McGuire today ordered the men to stand trial.

"My job is to find whether there is sufficient evidence to place the defendants on trial, and I do so find," he told the court.

Lawyers for the accused men said their clients denied the allegations and would plead not guilty.

Judge McGuire remanded the men to the High Court at Rotorua on September 1.

- NZPA