Pair charged over Nicholas case to plead not guilty

Two people charged over distributing leaflets about the Louise Nicholas rape case have said they will plead not guilty when they appear in court tomorrow.

Frances Martin and Daniel Rae have been charged with breaching suppression orders covering the recent rape trial involving suspended assistant police commissioner Clint Rickards and two former police colleagues, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum.

A High Court jury in Auckland cleared them in March of a total of 20 charges of raping and sexually abusing Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas in 1985 and 1986.

Martin and Rae were charged after handing out leaflets over the trial.

Today they said they would plead not guilty and that supporters would stage a vigil outside Christchurch District Court from 8.30am tomorrow.

- NZPA