Most New Zealanders know the name Louise Nicholas by now.
But unless you followed the court cases thoroughly, by reading every article in the newspaper or watching all the television news footage, you probably didn't know the details of her life until watching television movie Consent on Sunday night.
The powerful movie detailed how, as a 13-year-old, she was allegedly raped repeatedly by a Murupara police officer and then later in life she was allegedly raped by three Rotorua police officers. It also highlighted her misguided trust in Detective Inspector John Dewar, who was later jailed for perverting the course of justice relating to two aborted trials involving the Murupara police officer.
What is remarkable about Mrs Nicholas' story is that Dewar was the only one who was found guilty in all her legal battles. Both of the rape trials ended in acquittals yet she is still hailed a hero in this country for speaking out about sexual abuse.
Is this a reflection of our justice system? How would those jury members feel now knowing two of the Rotorua police officers, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum, were already serving jail terms for rape when they stood trial for raping Mrs Nicholas.
