Rickards' accuser has no regrets

The woman who accused one of the country's top police officers of rape has revealed she has no regrets about pursuing the case.

Her comment came the day after one of the country's most senior policemen walked free from the High Court in Auckland after a three-week rape trial.

Assistant police commissioner Clint Rickards and former policemen Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum were acquitted on all 20 sex charges against them on Friday afternoon.

Mrs Nicholas, through a family friend, said she had no regrets about the case. She had claimed Rickards, Shipton and Schollum had raped her and sexually abused her, once with a police baton, while she was an 18-year-old in Rotorua in 1985 and 1986.

A family spokesman said Mrs Nicholas was "feeling as anyone would in her situation". "She and the Nicholas family just want to thank family and friends for their support and the hundreds and hundreds of ordinary New Zealanders who sent cards and letters of support."

There was anger from the families of the men involved in the trial. As he was leaving the court, Mr Rickards said he had strong concerns over the way the police investigation was carried out.

Mr Shipton's brother Craig said yesterday the family planned to lodge a complaint with the Police Complaints Authority. He said the trial was an attempt to prevent Mr Rickards from becoming the first Maori Police Commissioner.

"Certain people did not want to see that happen. We don't know exactly who but we do know some politicians waded into that."

Prime Minister Helen Clark was among those who made comments on the case. "The question which is on everyone's mind is, what were the prevailing standards of police behaviour where group sex with relatively young women was not considered a matter of concern to the employer?" she asked.

Ms Clark yesterday dismissed accusations of interference. "The Government has no influence on prosecutions."

Mr Schollum's wife Caron said she was delighted. Family and friends had celebrated after the verdict.

Rickards, 45, has been suspended from the police on full pay since the inquiry began but discussions about his future are expected to take time.

Lawyer Dr Rob Moodie said the suspension of Mr Rickards would not attract compensation as it did for senior police officer Alec Waugh.

After a successful personal grievance claim in 2004, Superintendant Waugh was reinstated and awarded $1 million for five years out of the police.

"The opportunity for that would be virtually zero," Mr Moodie told the Herald On Sunday.

He said unless Mr Rickards could show the police hierarchy had mishandled his case or that prosecutors had fabricated information, he didn't have a case to argue against his employers or the court.

Deputy Commissioner Lyn Provost said on Friday that talks would begin with Assistant Commissioner Rickards over employment matters but the process could not be rushed.

-HERALD ON SUNDAY