KEY POINTS:
As the "not guilty" verdicts were read out in the High Court at Auckland yesterday, the complainant hung her head before quietly disappearing.
She closed the side-door at the back of the court room through which she was looking as friends and family members of the three men wept with joy and relief.
Small gasps could be heard in the public gallery as each "not guilty" verdict was read out.
Schollum, Shipton and Mr Rickards struggled to maintain their composure.
Mr Rickards punched the air at waist-level as the final verdicts were read out and called out "Yes!"
Friends and family members wept, smiled, hugged one another and shared tissues. Shipton's wife Sharon's heaving sobs drowned out the noise of the packed court room.
Louise Nicholas, the complainant in last year's sex trial in which the same three men were also found not guilty, stood at the back of the court room, but quickly left after the verdicts were read out.
Schollum's daughter dabbed her eyes with tissues and hugged the person sitting next to her.
The court room had been silent as they waited for the jury of four women and eight men to return.
Holding back her tears, Schollum's wife, Caron, said she was delighted with the result.
"It's been enormously hard. The emotional toll is incalculable. I knew that 'not guilty' should be the outcome."
Schollum's sister Di Gilhooly, who initially didn't want to comment, later said she was happy it was finally over.
"I'm absolutely elated and it was the right verdict. It's been sheer hell for us the last two and a half years," she said, as tears welled up.
Before going outside, about 30 friends and family joined hands in a big circle and said a prayer.
Mr Rickards later came out from a side-room and embraced his supporters.
Mr Rickards' partner, Tania Eden, stood by his side as he faced the media. She said the case had been hard on their children and family life.
"We have been through hell over the last three years. We are an ordinary Kiwi family. We want to get back to looking after our children. We have five children and they are our priority at this stage."
Mr Rickards said he would celebrate last night with his family.
"I said three years ago that I was not guilty and that's been vindicated today, those comments."
Shipton's brother Greg Shipton said his family's love for Brad Shipton was "unconditional" and it was a "tremendous relief" hearing the not guilty verdicts being read out.
"Like I said, our love for our brother is unconditional and we don't believe in any of that - we know what type of person he was."
Mr Shipton said he believed the case against the three men was politically motivated to prevent Mr Rickards becoming the first Maori Commissioner.
"I can't wait for the day to watch Helen Clark fall on her sword. What you have here is a current member of the police who has honoured his commitment to serve and protect for over 20 years.
"I think now it's time for Helen Clark, time for even the Police Association and the police hierarchy, to put right a few of the wrongs that Mr Rickards has received over the past three years.
"To me justice is about playing in a level playing field and not only has that been stepped outside of, it has been bashed very early in the piece."
Mr Shipton said he didn't think the men had received fair trials and criticised the media coverage.
"I don't believe there was enough evidence to bring any of the cases to court but because the media have been one way, that's why he's sitting where he is [in jail for the Mt Maunganui rape]."
Mr Shipton said he managed to give his brother a hug before he was taken away. It was "very emotional".
He said he thought Louise Nicholas' presence was "tacky. She's had her day in court. She stood there and she gave her evidence and was showed out for the person she is. I pity her - I don't hate her - I just pity her."
But soon after the verdict was read out he was overheard telling someone on his cell phone; "Mate, they brought that maggot-lying bitch Nicholas into the back of the court."
And about the complainant in the latest trial, he said: "I think if you look deep you'll probably find a connection somewhere."
THE THREE TRIALS
1 THE LATEST CASE
Accused: Shipton, Schollum, Rickards
Complainant aged 16 at the time.
Claimed that sometime between November 1983 and August 1984:
* She was restrained with handcuffs.
* She was violated with a whisky bottle
* Shipton was the main protagonist
* Schollum was conciliatory, telling the others "she's had enough".
* Five men were present.
The Trial: Yesterday, all accused found not guilty of all charges.
2. LOUISE NICHOLAS ALLEGATIONS, ROTORUA
Accused: Shipton, Schollum, Rickards
Complainant: Louise Nicholas, about 18 at the time
Claimed that in 1986 she was:
* Raped, by Shipton, Schollum and Rickards
* Violated using a police baton
* She said Shipton was the main protagonist
* Schollum was conciliatory, apologising to her, "Sorry Lou"
* Four men present
The Trial: In April 2006 the men were found not guilty of all 20 charges.
3. MOUNT MAUNGANUI - 1989
Accused: Shipton, Schollum, Peter McNamara, Warren Hales.
Complainant, aged 20
Claimed that in January 1989 she was:
* Lured to a surf tower under a false pretext
* Main protagonist Shipton
* She was handcuffed
* Raped by four accused and another man.
* Shipton indecently assaulted her with a police baton.
* Schollum was conciliatory, telling Shipton "don't hurt her"
* The defence says the incidents didn't happen or were consensual.
The Trial: In July 2005, Shipton, Schollum, Mt Maunganui businessman Peter Mana McNamara, 46, and Tauranga fireman Warren Graham Hales, 40, were found guilty of raping the woman.
Sentences: Shipton was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in jail for two counts of rape, three years for unlawful sexual connection and three years for unlawful detention, to be served concurrently.
Schollum was sentenced to eight years for rape, four years for unlawful sexual connection and three years for unlawful detention, to be served concurrently.
McNamara got seven years for rape and three years concurrent for unlawful detention.
Hales appealed, and was granted a retrial but instead pleaded guilty to abduction and got an 18-month jail sentence.
