Woman pleads not guilty to suppression breach

A woman accused of distributing leaflets containing suppressed information about the Louise Nicholas rape case has pleaded not guilty.

Emily Felicity Bailey, 29, is charged with breaching a suppression order made by Justice Tony Randerson in the High Court at Auckland in March this year.

At Wellington District Court today she pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The leaflet was allegedly handed out by four women at Wellington railway station and elsewhere in the city. It contained details suppressed at the jury 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.

Outside court today a handful of supporters gathered with placards and banners, supporting Louise Nicholas and criticising police.

Bailey, an unemployed woman who does voluntary work as a filmmaker, was remanded to a status hearing on October 31.

- NZPA