Nicholas rape case leaflet referred to police

A leaflet about the Louise Nicholas rape trial, circulated in Wellington today, has been referred to the Solicitor-General and the police.

The leaflet was apparently handed out by four women at Wellington railway station and referred matters suppressed at the trial at which one serving and two former police officers were found not guilty of a variety of sexual offences against Mrs Nicholas in Rotorua 20 years ago.

The accused men were Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards and former officers Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton who faced a three week jury trial in the High Court at Auckland.

Mr Schollum's lawyer, Paul Mabey, QC, said he had referred the leaflet to Solicitor-General Terence Arnold, QC, and the police.

"It's in their hands," he said.

"All I can do is bring it to their attention, which I have and they're the enforcement authorities. It's up to them what they do."

A spokeswoman for the Crown Law Office said the matter was one for the police.

"It is a breach of a suppression order, which is a criminal offence," she said.

She also suggested that Mr Mabey could go back to the court that imposed the suppression order.

"It's a serious breach," she said.

The spokeswoman said she had heard the women had given out about 1600 leaflets so far.

No-one was available for comment from Wellington police.

- NZPA