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Through three different sex trials, Sharon Shipton has staunchly stood by her husband of 29 years - and now she could end up paying for it with her job.
Shipton's employer, the Ministry of Justice, is understood to be reconsidering her future within the organisation because of her marriage to jailed former police officer Brad Shipton - and testimony she gave in his most recent rape trial.
Shipton yesterday refused to discuss the matter, but Herald on Sunday sources have confirmed a new job offer guaranteeing her employment beyond her current contract was withdrawn by the ministry last week.
Shipton works as a project manager for the Chief Electoral Office - a division of the Ministry of Justice - and it is believed her current contract has less than a month to run.
The ministry said it was not in a position to divulge any details of Shipton's employment agreement.
It would also not discuss suggestions its image could potentially be tainted because of her marriage, or disputed evidence she gave in his rape trial. However, any move against Shipton could open the ministry up to an expensive and messy legal fight.
Employment law expert Don MacKinnon said the law clearly stated that the actions of a spouse or partner were irrelevant to an employee's "personal relationship" with their employee.
"As a general rule it's hard to imagine the actions of your spouse can bring your employer into disrepute. It would be surprising if the actions of the husband in this case could justify these actions by Mrs Shipton's employer," he said.
Shipton, suspended Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards and former officer Bob Schollum have been acquitted in two sex trials. But Shipton and Schollum are serving time for raping a third woman in Mt Maunganui in 1989.
