NZ - False allegations sex abuse

Teacher Accused - Masterton

2007-05-17T22:14:00.001+12:00

Stuff
May 17 2007

Masterton teacher denies charge of kissing pupil
NZPA

Masterton deputy principal "strenuously denies" kissing a 12-year-old female pupil at the centre of two indecency charges he faced in Masterton District Court yesterday.

Russell Brian Thompson, 46, Masterton Intermediate School deputy principal and teacher, did not enter pleas to a charge that on May 4 he committed an indecent act on a girl aged 12 and a further charge that he committed an indecent act on the same girl on diverse dates between April 1 and May 4.

Paul Paino, representing Thompson, did not seek name suppression and said his client "emphatically denies" the charges.

"The charges are that he kissed a pupil, which he strenuously denies," Mr Paino told the court.

Thompson, who was accompanied to the court by a group of about 10 family and supporters, was remanded on bail until June 13 and appeared nervous but defiant in the dock as his bail conditions were set.

Newstalk ZB
May 17 2007; 10:16

Teacher charged with indecency on 12yo girl

Police have charged a Masterton Intermediate School teacher, following allegations of a sexual assault on a young girl.

Russell Brian Thompson appeared in the Masterton District Court yesterday, charged with two counts of performing an indecent act on a 12-year-old girl. The 47-year-old did not seek name suppression and was granted bail to reappear on June 14.

Principal Fraser Mailman wrote to parents on Monday, saying the allegations have shocked and saddened his staff. Mr Mailman says the school is handling the situation as best it can.

Newstalk ZB
May 14 2007; 14:56

Police investigate allegation against teacher

Police are investigating allegations made against a Masterton Intermediate staff member.

School principal Fraser Mailman has outlined the investigation in a newsletter to parents and students. He says his staff are shocked and saddened by the allegation which was reported to police last week.

Mr Mailman says it is a sad time for all, but the school is trying to deal with it in the best way it can and he appreciates the support a number of parents have expressed.

He says he cannot comment on the nature of the allegation, until police inquiry is complete.

Teacher Accused - Dargaville

2007-05-17T22:07:00.000+12:00

Newstalk ZB
May 17 2007; 12:48

Teacher faces trial on sexual violation charges

A former Dargaville teacher is to stand trial on charges of sexually violating a young person.

It follows a depositions hearing today in the Dargaville District Court.

Richard Calder faces four charges of sexual violation, two of supplying liquor to a minor and one of indecent assault on a child under 16.

The charges all relate to incidents on January 24 this year.

The 35-year-old was remanded on bail and will reappear in the High Court in Whangarei in July.

Anne Hunt - Book Dispute

2007-05-16T22:20:00.000+12:00

The Dominion Post
May 16 2007

Solicitor-general in book dispute

Solicitor-General David Collins, QC, has been pitched back into a court case over a controversial book detailing a woman's battles with a senior health professional she accused of sex abuse.

It was revealed in the Court of Appeal yesterday that court president William Young had directed Dr Collins -- who now heads the Crown Law Office -- to file an affidavit in response to author Anne Hunt's latest affidavit on the case.

In the event, Justice Susan Glazebrook, heading the three-member court -- that does not include Justice Young -- said it would consider only small parts of the affidavits. Justice Glazebrook said in many respects Dr Collins and Mrs Hunt agreed about what happened, but disagreed on what basis he was involved, and what she understood from what took place.

Dr Collins, who at the time represented the woman making the sex abuse allegations, was not present or represented at yesterday's hearing.

Mrs Hunt, a Foxton Beach author, is appealing against a High Court judge's decision that she breached the confidential settlement of a civil case against the health professional, and ordered that she pay $15,000.

She was fined $1000 for contempt of court in having published the contents of court documents not obtained under rules covering a search of court records. About 650 unsold copies of her book were ordered to be destroyed. More than 300 copies were sold after it was published in 2003.

The health professional's name is suppressed, as is the name of the book. Mrs Hunt's lawyer, Steven Price, had wanted the book named. He said too much in the case had been suppressed already, including the mere existence of the proceedings for many months.

The health professional's lawyer, Hugh Rennie, QC, said the man had never been found to have done anything wrong. He was now aged in his 70s, and wanted peace in his retirement.

The evidence was that Dr Collins put Mrs Hunt in contact with the woman who made the complaints. In August 2001 the woman gave Mrs Hunt authority to publish anything Dr Collins deemed appropriate, but Dr Collins never did deem it appropriate, and the woman asked Mrs Hunt not to publish, Mr Rennie said.

Mr Price said the High Court judge had wrongly excluded evidence about Dr Collins' involvement, on which she based her belief that the manuscript was safe to publish.

He said the court could not control access to court-sourced documents in the control of a third party.

NZ Miscarriages of Justice

2007-05-16T22:14:00.000+12:00

NZ Parliament
May 15 2007

Questions and Answers
Press Release Office of the Clerk

Questions to Ministers

4. NANDOR TANCZOS (Green) to the Minister of Justice: Does he agree with Sir Thomas Thorp, who warns in his report into miscarriages of justice that up to 20 people could be wrongfully incarcerated in New Zealand's jails; if not, why not?

Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Justice): Sir Thomas Thorp's report is a valuable study of the United Kingdom's experience of miscarriages of justice, but, as Sir Thomas himself acknowledges, there is no definitive New Zealand data on the potential number of miscarriages of justice.

Nandor Tanczos: Does the Minister agree that following the Privy Council decision in the Bain case there are a number of other cases, such as that of Scott Watson, Peter Ellis, John Barlow, and others, that cause considerable disquiet in the public's mind and among legal professionals, and that until this country has a process such as that outlined by Justice Thorp—that is, a criminal appeals review office of some kind—that disquiet will not be laid to rest?

Hon MARK BURTON: The option proposed by Justice Thorp is clearly a credible one for some jurisdictions, and the work we are doing right now is really examining that, alongside other options. But, without commenting on specific cases, I would point out that a number of the cases the member cited have resulted in referral back to the court by way of the current royal prerogative system. So clearly it is not the case that the process has failed many of those who have made use of it in New Zealand.

Lynne Pillay: What has the Government done in relation to the issues raised by the Thorp report?

Hon MARK BURTON: We have moved to adopt a simple three-stage case-management system for considering applications, to ensure there is a straightforward process, and have expanded the pool of legal advisers, and added additional support from external lawyers. Also, it is fair to say that at the front end the Evidence Act 2002 will have a significant and positive impact on how the courts operate, as it brings greater clarity to the way in which information is offered to courts as evidence.

Dr Pita Sharples: What explanation does he have for the finding, in the 2006 report of Sir Thomas Thorp, that Māori and Pasifika peoples use the existing processes for reporting miscarriages of justice much less than Pākehā?

Hon MARK BURTON: I cannot offer the member an off-the-cuff explanation, but certainly it sits inside the work being done now in terms of the overrepresentation of Māori in the criminal justice system. I think that question, and many others, must be addressed in terms of—

Gerry Brownlee: That's what you were saying 9 years ago. What have you been doing?

Hon MARK BURTON: With respect, the member's party was in Government 9 years ago. He really should focus on the facts.

Hon Peter Dunne: Does the Minister acknowledge that public concern about the way in which evidence was gathered and presented to the court in cases like the Bain case and the Watson case, raises strong doubts that the amendments to the Evidence Act, which he referred to, will overcome the suspicion that in such controversial cases the determination of the police to "get their man" often gets in the way of ensuring that all the relevant facts, regardless of their impact on the Crown case, are presented to the court, so that juries can reach a fair and balanced verdict; if so, what is he going to do about it?

Hon MARK BURTON: I think the member understands that it is absolutely improper for me to comment, at this time, on the case that is currently before the court.

Hon Peter Dunne: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I do not normally raise points of order about Minister's answers, but my question was a general one using two specific examples. I think the Minister can be invited to comment on the general proposition I raised, if not referring to the specific cases.

Hon MARK BURTON: I am happy to expand. Frankly, it is too soon to reach the sort of conclusion that the member's question implies in relation to the changes to the Evidence Act. It was enacted in November last year, and I think it is simply too soon to reach that sort of conclusion.

Dr Pita Sharples: Does the Minister agree with the explanations of Sir Thomas Thorp that the reason Māori and Pasifika peoples do not report miscarriages of justice is that they feel they are not understood by the justice system; if so, what is he doing to particularly improve Māori and Pasifika confidence in the integrity of the justice system?

Hon MARK BURTON: I think Justice Thorp's comments have some merit. The work that is in progress now is specifically addressing that issue both through ongoing policy and specific programmes that are already working. In particular, the work is looking at proven programmes and how they can be better resourced, particularly programmes working with Māori and Pacific communities that have a proven track record. We are looking right now at how the better resourcing of those programmes might expand the effectiveness of their work.

Nandor Tanczos: In light of the Minister's previous answer, when he talked about the satisfactory nature of the way petitions to the Governor-General are dealt with, does he agree that justice should be transparent, accountable, and consistent in process; if so, what does he make of the opinion of senior Queen's Counsel Judith Ablett-Kerr, who describes the current way of handling petitions to the Governor-General as "terribly arbitrary, with no consistency of approach, no transparency, and little accountability", and does he not agree that an independent office, as outlined by Justice Thorp, would provide a transparent, consistent, and fair process?

Hon MARK BURTON: In answer to the first question, I disagree with the Queen's Counsel, who has a particular view on these matters as an active defence lawyer. I draw to the member's attention Sir Thomas' view, after examining the 53 files that he had asked for the opportunity to access, that he had few disagreements with the conclusions reached. That suggests that the current process is a robust one. That is not to say that the alternative model he has raised is not worthy of consideration; it is under current active consideration, along with other possibilities. As the member knows, I think, that policy work is due for report later this year.

Nandor Tanczos: How can the Minister be satisfied with the current process in light of the fact that it took Rex Haig taking a prison officer hostage before he got a fair hearing, and does it require taking someone captive to get a fair trial in the New Zealand system?

Hon MARK BURTON: I simply do not agree with the member's assertion.

Nandor Tanczos: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask the Minister to clarify whether he is disputing that Rex Haig had to take someone hostage, or whether he is disputing that that is what it takes to get a fair deal.

Madam SPEAKER: Is the member asking another supplementary question—because the Minister did address the question? There are no more supplementary questions.

NZ Innocence Project

2007-05-16T22:11:00.000+12:00

Three News
May 16 2007; 19:12

The Innocence Project speaks to Campbell Live

The Privy Council has quashed David Bain’s murder convictions which means, as the law defines it, he is no longer guilty, but it does not mean he has been found not guilty.

If David Bain is indeed not guilty, he will join the list of people like Arthur Allan Thomas, Rex Haig and David Dougherty, New Zealanders put in jail for terrible crimes they did not commit.

Victoria University’s School of Psychology has recently established a research unit to look at cases where convictions may be dubious.

Known as the Innocence Project, it will focus particularly on the use of psychological evidence – evidence that can easily become contaminated.

Campbell Live talks to the manager of the Innocence Project.

Radio NZ
May 16 2007; 13:14

Victoria University says Bain case highlights need for Innocence Project

Victoria University in Wellington says the Bain case shows why the country needs a so-called Innocence Project.

The university has just set up an Innocence Project which aims to prevent serious miscarriages of justice.

A researcher Matthew Gerrie says the project follows in the path of similar ones around the world and examines possible cases of miscarriages of justice and wrongful convictions.

Dr Gerrie says project workers are already looking at a number of different cases that they might investigate, although he's declined to say which ones.

Peter Ellis - Denied Justice

2007-05-16T22:07:00.000+12:00

The Nelson Mail
May 15 2007

Peter Ellis case
Letter to the Editor
by C A Pettit, Stoke

The person I have always felt was denied justice is Peter Ellis. Here is a man convicted on the evidence of pre-school children.

I have said it before and will say it again. When I was pre or early school, I could have easily said (and stood by it) that my dad was the worst person in the world. He was in fact one of the best dads anyone could hope for.

Taranaki Daily News
May 12 2007

Another blow for justice
Letter to the Editor
by J Robins, Stratford

FINALLY, and rightfully, David Bain is to be freed. The charges of murder against him noted by the British Law Lords to have been slammed as a "substantial miscarriage of justice''.

Surely now David can be officially pardoned and recompensed by our Government for the years of wrongful incarceration and continued slur against his character by the media and individuals alike.

To our New Zealand police force, again another slight against their credibility.

How can the average New Zealander feel confident that our legal system is just and righteous?

Think back to Peter Ellis, Arthur Allan Thomas and others presently in the penal system also bemoaning their innocence. The obvious being Scott Watson.

The New Zealand Police have hardly been conducting themselves in a way that can be seen as `exemplary'; far from it. Rape, sexual abuse accusations are almost a daily occurrence and yet we are still expected to place our trust in them. I sincerely hope David gets all the compensation due him and that our police force weeds out the dead wood.

Berhampore sex claims settled

2007-05-16T22:04:00.000+12:00

Radio NZ
May 16 2007; 10:37

Out-of-court settlement reached for Presbyterian sexual abuse claimants.

After years of negotiations, former residents of Wellington's Berhampore Children's home have reached an out-of-court settlement with Presbyterian Support Central over sex abuse claims.

Around seventeen people claimed they were sexually abused while living at the home forty years ago, by its former manager Walter Lake, who died before charges could be laid.

The lawyer representing the claimants, Gordon Paine, says a settlement was reached with all of his thirteen clients.

He says the majority have expressed relief that the ordeal is over, and the settlement will help to give them closure.

Mr Paine says his clients have agreed to a confidentiality clause as part of the settlement, so its details can not be revealed.

The Dominion Post
May 16 2007

Children's home abuse claim settled out of court
by Colin Patterson

Former Berhampore Children's Home residents who claimed they were abused by supervisor Walter Lake have ended their campaign after an out-of-court settlement.

The 13 former residents said that Lake sexually abused them in the 1950s and 1960s while he was in charge of the home, which closed in 1985.

Lake died in November 2004, aged 84, as police were about to charge him with multiple sex offences.

The claimants have been in a long-running battle with Presbyterian Support Central -- which owned the home -- for compensation and an apology.

In 2005, the two groups agreed that barrister George Barton would be employed as a commissioner to assess the claims.

Chief executive Mark Woodard said the complainants had now received an apology from Presbyterian Support "for any way in which the organisation may have contributed to their anguish or trauma".

Other details of the settlement were confidential.

Gordon Paine, the lawyer who represented the 13 complainants, could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, a complainant who took separate legal action against Presbyterian Support said yesterday that he had reached a settlement with Presbyterian Support.

David Bahler -- identified only as B in court papers -- went to the High Court in December 2006 asking it to award him $50,000 that he said Presbyterian Support had agreed to pay following legal negotiations. But the court dismissed his claim.

His lawyer and Presbyterian Support's lawyer had since reached an agreement, which was also confidential.

Mr Bahler said he was happy with the outcome. He said the matter was now "dead and buried".

NZ Herald
May 16 2007

Children's home sex abuse claims 'settled'
NZPA

Former residents of Wellington's Berhampore Children's Home reached an out-of-court settlement over sexual abuse claims, it was reported today.

The 13 former residents said that supervisor Walter Lake sexually abused them in the 1950s and 1960s at the home, which closed in 1985.

Police were about to charge Lake with multiple sex offences when he died in November 2004, aged 84.

The claimants have been in a long-running battle with Presbyterian Support Central -- which owned the home -- for compensation and an apology.

PSC chief executive Mark Woodward told the Dominion Post today that a confidential settlement had been reached with the claimants and that they had now received an apology "for any way in which the organisation may have contributed to their anguish or trauma".

Teacher Not Guilty - Gisborne

2007-05-08T20:20:00.000+12:00

Stuff
May 8 2007; 17:59

Teacher found not guilty of sex with underage student
NZPA

Tears welled in the eyes of a relief teacher accused of having sex and indecently assaulting a 14-year-old student as a jury found him not guilty on all charges in Gisborne District Court today.

It took the jury two and a half hours to find Janus Herewini Warmenhoven, 29, not guilty of having sexual intercourse with a girl aged between 12 and 16 and two counts of indecently assaulting a girl aged between 12 and 16.

As the final verdict was read, he wiped a tear off his cheek.

Warmenhoven had name suppression up to and during the trial to protect his right to a fair hearing as he had faced charges in Australia last year.

In April last year a Brisbane Supreme Court jury found Warmenhoven not guilty of murder and manslaughter.

He was accused of killing his former girlfriend's 10-month-old daughter in Brisbane during February 2003.

He appeared in Gisborne District Court this week accused of kissing, indecently touching and having sex with a 14-year-old former student during a party in a rural East Coast town in January 2004.

In closing, defence counsel Nicola Wright told the jury that these things simply did not happen.

Basically the complainant was a young girl, who had a crush on her teacher – a teacher she knew was not returning to the school next year, Mrs Wright said.

The girl made up this story so she could brag about it to her friends.

When the story hit her mother's ears she did not want to look like a liar so she continued the story.

"This is a woman who can't back down from what she said three and a half years ago," Mrs Wright said.

Mrs Wright asked the jury to imagine what the girl's life would have been like in a small East Coast town if she had backed down and admitted that she had lied.

There were two things the complainant was holding on to, that she had sex with Warmenhoven and that she kissed him.

However, there was no witnesses to either of those events, Mrs Wright said.

In closing for the prosecution, Nicola Graham said Warmenhoven was a man who was liked by students; a man many considered quite handsome and that many of the girls had a crush on.

He sometimes socialised with his students out of hours, often at parties around town.

"At one of those parties, less than a month after school year ended, he hooked up with a student," she said.

When people found out, Warmenhoven said it did not happen and that the girl was only boasting to her friends.

However, her friend and cousin had testified that on the night of the party Warmenhoven asked her if the complainant wanted to "hook up" with him.

A short time later she noticed both Warmenhoven and the complainant missing.

Around an hour later when they returned Warmenhoven was wearing different clothes to what he had been wearing earlier in the evening.

Teacher Not Guilty - Hamilton

2007-05-08T20:17:00.000+12:00

Waikato Times
May 8 2007

Retrial finds jailed man not guilty of sex charge

A former Hamilton teacher who was jailed for sexually assaulting a woman in 2005 has been found not guilty in a retrial.

A Hamilton District Court jury last week delivered a verdict of not guilty on two charges of indecent assault against Vijendra Kumar, 33, a former relief teacher.

Mr Kumar said the verdict brought an end to two years of heartache and stress for his family, and he was looking forward to getting his life back on track.

"It has been a very hard time - all of a sudden my life came to an end but I had done nothing wrong," he told the Waikato Times. "Now we can start a new life."

In May 2006 a jury found Mr Kumar guilty of indecently assaulting a real estate agent who was showing him an empty house in 2005. He was sentenced to two years and two months in jail, five months of which he served before his appeal was approved. He was due to be released from jail when he began the appeal process.

The woman, who has continued name suppression, told police that Mr Kumar had propositioned her while she was showing him a listing in Chartwell's Belmont Ave, and then said he demanded to be taken back to the property after viewing other houses and forced her to masturbate him.

The charges were a "shock" for Mr Kumar; the teacher of seven years lost his job and people turned their backs on him. From jail he and his wife initiated a retrial, becoming well versed in the legal mine-field they were journeying into. With the help of his new lawyer Mike Robb they were granted the retrial.

"I know so much about law now. I studied so I knew what was happening," Mr Kumar said.

He said he had spent thousands on legal bills and had been ill because of stress. It was the support of his family that kept him motivated to fight what he considered to be a trial affected by racism.

"It was my very hard efforts and my wife's very hard efforts that we were able to appeal and win," he told the Times.

"My wife has been very supportive and it is because of her support that I was able to appeal. I am glad it is now over."

Obsessed with paedophilia

2007-05-06T13:12:00.000+12:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6563529.stm

BBC News
April 17 2007

Misery lit... read on
by Brendan O'Neil

The bestseller lists are full of memoirs about miserable childhoods and anguished families. Waterstone's even has a "Painful Lives" shelf. Why are authors confessing their hurt so freely and do readers find morbid enjoyment in them?

In recent years, numerous new sub-genres have emerged in Britain's literary scene.

There has been "chick lit" (usually comedic novels about singletons looking for Mr Right), "mummy lit" (tales of new mums making a hash of juggling child and career), and "Brit lit" (which refers to new British novel-writing in general).

Now we have what Bookseller magazine refers to as "mis lit", or "misery memoirs", in which the author tells of his or her triumph over personal trauma. Referred to by publishing houses as "inspirational lit" - or "inspi-lit" - many, though by no means all, of the harrowing memoirs tell of being sexually abused as a child.

And they are proving to be hugely popular. Currently there are three such books in the top 10 best-selling paperbacks in Britain.

Don't Tell Mummy by Toni Maguire, "a memoir of childhood abuse", is at number one. It's followed closely by Betrayed, a mother's story of a family torn apart by her daughter's behaviour, and Silent Sisters, a memoir about "siblings who survived abuse". In the hardback top 10 there is Our Little Secret, which tells of a "boy molested from age of four" and Damaged, the story of a child abused by parents "involved in a sickening paedophile ring". Daddy's Little Girl, which recounts a girl's abuse by her father, sits just outside.

These memoirs sell in numbers that many mainstream novelists can only dream about. Of the top 100 bestselling paperbacks of 2006, 11 were memoirs about surviving abuse. With combined sales of 1.9 million copies, abuse memoirs made up 8.8% of sales in the 100 bestselling paperbacks last year.

Waterstone's now has a "Painful Lives" shelf which features the newest such examples; Borders has a "Real Lives" section.

They sell in supermarkets, too, including Asda and Tesco. According to Kate Elton of Arrow publishers, the market for these memoirs is "80% or 90% female".

What lies behind the speedy rise of the "misery memoir"? Is the popularity of these books a healthy sign that Britons are shaking off their stiff upper lips and finally talking out loud about painful events? Or is there an element of voyeurism, even salaciousness, in the snapping up of such memoirs?

Helps healing

Some of the memoirists say they write in order to come to terms with their traumatic experiences - and to help readers to do likewise.

Toni Maguire, author of the top-selling paperback Don't Tell Mummy, in which she writes of her abuse at the hands of her father, said in a recent interview it was "difficult going back over the past, but writing helped me deal with the past. If readers take one thing away from reading the book I'd like it to be that they normalise the victim. People have got to realise that it is not shameful to be a victim", said Maguire.

James W Pennebaker, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas in the US, says that writing about traumatic experiences can indeed help the writer to deal with his or her emotions.

"There's compelling evidence that writing about serious emotional upheavals can improve mental and physical health," he says.

Professor Pennebaker admits scientific research into the value of expressive writing is still in the "early phases". But his research seems to show that trauma-writing is beneficial.

Unsavoury side

"In our studies, we bring a group of people into the lab and randomly select some to write about a personal traumatic experience and others to write about something superficial. They write in 15- or 30-minute bursts over a period of three or four days. We found that those who write about trauma tend to see some improvement in wellbeing."

The trauma-writers experienced health benefits - including improvement in immune function - and also reported feeling "less haunted" by their traumatic experiences.

However, Professor Pennebaker says his research only covers individuals who write "by themselves and for themselves".

"The act of writing can be therapeutic, but having your painful writing published is a different matter. Whether that is beneficial for the author is up for question. Sometimes it introduces new problems of its own. The author might be cut off by family and friends or find that their social worlds fall apart."

Others believe that the success of the misery memoir reveals something rather more unsavoury about contemporary Britain.

"I just don't buy the idea that people buy these books for information or advice, for an 'Open Sesame' to becoming free of their own harrowing memories", says Times columnist Carol Sarler.

"Rather they show that, as a nation, we seem utterly in thrall to paedophilia. We are obsessed with it. And now, with these books, we are wallowing in the muck of it. It's all rather disgusting."

Gerry Feehily, a publisher-turned-novelist based in Paris, also believes these books are popular because they flatter readers' sense of moral outrage while also secretly titillating.

"Paedophiles are down there with the Nazis and Judas as all-time bad folk, so these stories are easy on the writer, easy on the reader. Most of us not being paedophiles, we are in a comfort zone with these books, where we feel edified and also morbidly thrilled."

And because the memoirs are born out of an existing consensus that child abusers are wicked, they cannot be considered to be challenging or "real" literature, says Feehily.
"For me, any real literature avoids a ready-made consensus, or even challenges the consensus. Few of the books on abuse rise above the level of curio, documentary or pure opportunism", he says.

Liz Bury of Bookseller thinks we should be more generous. The rise of the misery memoir shows there has been a "great shift in attitudes in Britain" - we have become more willing to talk about nasty events rather than pursing our lips and staying quiet, she says.

"Maybe there is a voyeuristic impulse behind some people's purchase of these memoirs," says Ms Bury. "But probably the vast majority of readers are motivated by empathy rather than a desire to pore over someone else's pain"

Book Review: Child Sex Abuse

2007-05-06T12:20:00.000+12:00

Book Review

Child Sexual Abuse: Disclosure, Delay, and Denial,
edited by Michael Lamb, Margaret-Ellen Pipe, Yael Orbach, Ann-Christin Cederborg
(2007).

In the foreword, Gail Goodman and Tina Goodman Brown call this book a breakthrough. It attempts to shed light on the issue of disclosure, possibly the first time that the issue has been examined in detail. Studying disclosure from a scientific perspective is no easy task because, among other reasons, emotions can get in the way. There has been a lack of high quality research in this area. "How to obtain accurate and complete statements from children while limiting false reports is central to controversies surrounding disclosure".

The stakes are high. Failing to recognise abuse can result in a child being put at risk of further abuse. But a false accusation can be devastating for an accused, as well as for the children, who "may come to believe they were abuse victims when they were not, or they may have to live with the guilt of sending an innocent person to jail".

There is ongoing debate about how to help reluctant victims disclose and how often victims recant. There is also debate about how often leading questions result in false disclosures. This book sheds light on these questions.

Issues in CSA Accusations (2003)

2007-05-06T09:17:00.000+12:00

Forensic child and adolescent psychiatrists Diane Schetky, M.D. (left), and Elissa Benedek, M.D., receive the Manfred S. Guttmacher Award from Michael A. Norko, M.D., chair of the award committee. They were honored for their book Principles and Practice of Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry, published last year by American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.

http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/38/12/14

Psychiatric News
June 20, 2003
Volume 38 Number 12

False Sex Abuse Accusations Lead to Revision of Theories
Christine Lehmann

Research in the last decade indicates that most interview techniques and assumptions used in alleged child sexual abuse cases are seriously flawed. Thus, psychiatrists should be sure to read the latest literature before they testify in such cases

Psychiatrists who testify as experts in alleged child sexual abuse cases may undermine their credibility if they rely on outdated research and techniques, said forensic child and adolescent psychiatrist Diane Schetky, M.D., at APA’s 2003 annual meeting in San Francisco last month.

"I am amazed at experts who, despite the lack of evidence, continue to rely on a child’s behavior as an indicator of sex abuse," said Schetky, who has served as an expert witness in numerous cases of alleged child sexual abuse in the last 25 years.

Research has shown that sexualized behavior, for example, can be attributed to a number of other causes, including family sexuality, violence, and hours spent in day care, according to Schetky. Investigators have widely used children’s drawings, diagrams, and anatomically correct dolls to yield information that might support allegations of child sexual abuse.

However, studies have shown that young children may not appreciate the symbolic value of diagrams, adult questioning may influence the content of drawings, and dolls may increase recall but lead to inaccurate reports, said Schetky.

The research was driven primarily by sensational cases of alleged child sexual abuse in day-care centers in the 1980s, said Schetky.

"The public was outraged about the way the investigations were conducted and the ensuing miscarriages of justice that put innocent people in prison," said Schetky.

The research showed that between 23 percent and 33 percent of child sexual abuse cases involved false allegations, between 2 percent and 8 percent of cases involved deliberate lies by children, and the majority of reported cases were unfounded, said Schetky.

Several forces collided to create this phenomenon, including very young witnesses, inexperienced experts, poorly trained investigators, and role confusion.

"Interviewers were gullible, asked leading questions, conducted multiple interviews that led to delayed disclosures with fantastical details, and failed to consider other explanations for the children’s behaviors," said Schetky.

Therapists confused the absence of memory with repression of a traumatic memory, believed that memories were immutable and could be recalled from birth, and assumed a person who felt abused had indeed been abused, said Schetky.

Despite the lack of empirical evidence, therapists embraced and testified about various syndromes in court to explain the dynamics of sexual abuse. These included the sexual accommodation syndrome, a theoretical model designed to explain the dynamics of an incestuous family, and the sexually abused child syndrome, said Schetky.

Researchers found that children aged 11 and older were less suggestible than younger children, and preschool children were highly suggestible, said Schetky.

"The most reliable interviewer technique to obtain a narrative history from children was using open-ended questions and the child’s own words," said Schetky.

Some studies suggested that the first interview with the child is the most accurate, said Schetky.

During the last decade, psychiatrists conducted research on the long-term consequences of child sexual abuse. However, the results have been inconclusive. For example, a large retrospective study of women who were sexually abused in childhood showed a correlation with all psychiatric disorders, but another study on the effects of childhood sexual abuse showed a specific correlation with depression, suicide outcome, and posttraumatic stress disorder, according to Schetky.

The mixed results make predicting long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse risky, she concluded.

Judges in federal courts are largely responsible for determining the admissibility of testimony. "The impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in 1993 in Daubert v. Dow was to increase judges’ awareness of scientific methods and concepts of reliability and relevance. The plaintiff (Daubert) lost the case because of conflicting expert testimony from physicians and researchers. The ruling led to the publication of the Judge’s Scientific Reference Manual in 1994," said Schetky.

The impact of the ruling has been increased scrutiny of expert testimony, particularly in civil cases. "I recently spent a day answering questions from the opposing attorney about the methods and research I used in reaching my opinions," said Schetky.

"Ethical Guidelines for the Practice of Forensic Psychiatry" is posted on the Web site of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law at

www.aapl.org/publ.htm

Third of sex complaints false

2007-05-06T08:24:00.000+12:00

Sunday Star Times
May 6 2007

Lundy toasted family he killed, cop reveals
by Lisa Bradley

Mark Lundy took a bottle of wine and two glasses with him to view the bodies of the wife and daughter he butchered, the family's victim liaison officer has revealed.

Lundy, sentenced to 20 years' jail in 2002 for the double murder of Christine, 38, and seven-year-old Amber, poured two glasses of wine and toasted his wife while he stood over the coffins the night before the pair were buried.

Palmerston North detective Liz Williams, who was assigned to be victim liaison officer to the Lundy family after the bodies were found in the Karamea Cres home on August 29, 2000, has revealed fresh details about the case in a new book.

Williams says although she initially had an open mind on Lundy's guilt, she saw him in a different light during the funeral parlour visit.

Lundy "slithered" along a wall, crying loudly as they entered the viewing room, she recalls. He looked "more like a performer in a B-grade movie" than a grieving husband and father as he made the toast to Christine.

"He talked loudly to her for a while, mentioning who had called on him offering condolences, the comments being made more for those listening perhaps as opposed to the dead."
Williams also reveals Lundy seemed "oddly removed" from his daughter.

"It was as if he was detached from her, and I thought he was strangely unemotional in his manner. He hardly looked at her."

Williams later accompanied Lundy to the family home where the murders took place. The detective recalls feeling "terrible" passing the bloodstained carpet where Amber was found, a spot Lundy "nonchalantly" walked over to get to the bed where his wife was discovered.

"'Where was she lying?' he asked. I looked at him in amazement. Like the floor he had just walked over, the whole left-hand side of the bed was also covered in blood stains and it was pretty obvious where she had lain."

The case was Williams' first homicide.

It is one of many crimes Williams covers in her memoir of 12 years in the force, Does This Make My Gun Look Big?, which is told, she says, "from a short female's perspective" - she is just 55kg and 1.6m tall.

Williams, 35, refuses to be drawn on police attitudes to women in the force and outside it - although she began writing the book in 2003, just before rape allegations surfaced against assistant commissioner Clint Rickards and former officers Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum.
"Policing is just as much fun now as it was when I joined 12 years ago. I've never experienced bad things."

But Williams does write about her dealings with false rape complainants, saying about one in three sex allegations she investigates is unsubstantiated or false.

"It angers me," says Williams. "It makes it difficult for the real victims."

Despite her size, Williams says there is nothing she would not do to help a colleague in trouble. Her lethal weapon is her mouth, she says, as well as an ability to talk situations into her favour.
"You learn to adapt to what you've got."

* Does This Make My Gun Look Big?, Hazard Press, $29.99

Intelligent Police officer

2007-05-04T00:45:00.000+12:00

Neil Grimstone

Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says:

"The genuine victim will be treated professionally,
with courtesy and sympathy"

"However the liar will be found out and will be
fronted before the courts"

(One News, May 3 2007)

A police officer who appears to be genuinely concerned about victims of rape and victims of false allegations of rape.

Brethren: 5th woman complains

2007-05-04T00:21:00.000+12:00

The Press
May 2 2007

Fifth woman in sex-abuse claim

Police investigating historical child sex-abuse allegations against a Nelson member of the Exclusive Brethren have received a complaint from a fifth woman.
Detective Inspector John Winter, of the Nelson police, said they received a call from a former member of the church late last week.
Detectives were speaking to the woman. Police hoped to speak to the elderly Nelson man at the centre of the allegations once all the complaints had been thoroughly investigated, Winter said.
Of the five women who had complained about the Nelson man, three currently lived in Nelson, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch, Winter said.
It is understood the alleged offending took place in Nelson from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The police investigation into the allegations began in mid-March.
Australian-based Exclusive Brethren spokesman Tony McCorkell said he was prepared to come to New Zealand and help police with their inquiries.
McCorkell, who spoke to the man at the centre of the allegations when he was in New Zealand briefly last month , said the church would not pay for or assist with the man's legal needs.
"I understand he is seeking his own legal advice," said McCorkell.

The Nelson Mail
May 2 2007

Police to talk to Brethren man on sex claims

Nelson police investigating historic sexual abuse complaints from five former Exclusive Brethren women say they hope to speak to the elderly Nelson man at the centre of the allegations within a couple of weeks.
Tasman police district commander Superintendent Grant O'Fee said police initially received three complaints from women allegedly abused by an Exclusive Brethren member in Nelson between the early 1950s and the early 1980s.
He said two more women came forward with complaints late last week, and that all five were now being investigated.
He said the fourth complaint had been laid in Auckland, and related to alleged offending when the woman was around 10 years old and living in the Nelson area.
He said there was no suggestion of further complaints being made by other women. Mr O'Fee said investigations into historic complaints often took a considerable amount of time, as it was harder to contact everyone involved.
But he said police hoped to speak to the man the complaints had been made against in the next two weeks.
Police were still in the early stages of investigating the most recent complaint.
Australian-based Exclusive Brethren spokesman Tony McCorkell said he was prepared to come to New Zealand and help police with their inquiries.
* Of the five women who have complained about the man, three currently lived in Nelson, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch, he said. When Mr McCorkell was in New Zealand last month, he spoke to the man at the centre of the allegations, and said the church would not pay for, or assist with, the man's legal needs.
"I understand he is seeking his own legal advice,'' Mr McCorkell said.

Rape Hoax Part 6 - 3 May

2007-05-03T23:43:00.000+12:00

Nicola Alison May
False rape claims in 2004 and 2007

One News
May 3 2007

False rape complainant sorry

A South Auckland woman now admits she went to great lengths to stage a home invasion rape scene in the hope she might lure back a married man she had had a brief affair with.
Nicola May, 41, admitted making a false statement, said sorry to the court and made a plea to genuine rape victims to still come forward, despite what she has done.
May was not raped at gunpoint, there was no intruder and no one posing as an undercover policeman.
Instead she admits she fabricated the story and inflicted her own wounds to make it look like she was raped at her flat at Papakura.
Her lawyer Colin Amery says his client is extremely remorseful. On Thursday, she said sorry in a letter to the court, especially to genuine rape victims.
"I hope that my actions do not stop you from seeking help and coming forward and seeking help because the help that is available from the police and from other support agencies is the absolute best that is available and at every moment you will be treated with respect," she says.
The police officer in charge of the case, Neil Grimstone says the genuine victim will be treated professionally, with courtesy and sympathy, "however the liar will be found out and will be fronted before the courts".
It appears the motive in this case was love - a brief affair with a married man ended but she wanted him back.
"It was an attention seeking situation," says Grimstone.
The court heard how May cut her phone line, tore her clothing, injured herself and ripped out clumps of her own hair to make the rape look real. When she was finished, she told police she then physically made herself throw up.
It's not the first time May has cried rape. Police say investigations uncovered another false allegation three years ago.
"She's obviously going to try and put her life back in order. It's a very difficult time for her," says Amery.
"It's the start of the process. That's all I have to say now, thank you," says May.
And this case has another cost - nearly $60,000 from a police investigation totalling 670 man-hours. Grimstone says that's a huge amount of time and effort.
May had no supporters in court on Thursday. She will undergo a psychiatric assessment before she is sentenced next month.
The charge of making a false statement carries a penalty of three months in prison or a fine of up to $2,000.

Three News
May 3 2007; 11:25

Woman pleads guilty to making false statement about rape

The woman who claimed she had been raped by a police impersonator has pleaded guilty in a South Auckland court to making a false statement.
41-year-old Nicola Alison May, a former pharmacist, will be sentenced next month.
She injured herself last month to fool investigators and regain the attention of a married man she had had an affair with.
May, also made a false complaint in 2004.
Police say they wasted $60,000 and 670 hours on a manhunt over the false complaint and that the inquiry harmed other investigations.
However, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the recent Bazley report criticised police for their handling of women's complaints, but this case shows officers can be trusted

Newswire
May 3 2007; 18:06

Police Officer Doubted Description Of Attacker

The police officer investigating the false rape claim by Auckland woman Nicola May says it was her description of the attacker that aroused his suspicions.
The 41-year-old pleaded guilty at the Papakura District Court this morning to making a false statement to police after claiming she was sexually violated by a man posing as a plain clothed police officer.
The investigation lasted three days before she admitted the attack was self-inflicted.
Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the description of the armed plainclothes officer did not make sense.
Meanwhile, May hopes her actions won't stop legitimate victims from speaking out.
Outside the court May said the police treated her with respect and compassion and urged legitimate rape victims to come forward to police.
Police hold little hope of recovering the $60,000 the investigation cost to run.

Newswire
May 3 2007; 17:11

Cost Recovery Unlikely In False Rape Complaint: Police

Police say they're unlikely to recover the $60,000 cost of their investigation into a south Auckland rape complaint that turned out to be false.
A 41 year old woman, Nicola May, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to police at the Papakura District Court this morning.
Last month May concocted an elaborate story about how she was sexually violated by a man posing as a plain clothed police officer.
She went to great lengths to make her complaint appear valid, after being rejected by a lover.
The court heard that it seems unlikely the cost of the intensive police investigation can be recovered, given May's circumstances.
May will be sentenced in June.

Newswire
May 3 2007

Woman Admits Faking Rape Complaint

A 41-year-old south Auckland woman has admitted she lied about being viciously raped, a claim that sparked a major police investigation.
At Papakura District Court this morning, sickness beneficiary Nicola May pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false statement to the police.
The court heard that in April she developed an elaborate story about how a man posing as a plain clothes police officer forced his way into her home.
May pulled out her own hair, used a hammer to induce bleeding, and to make what appeared to be the trauma resulting from a sexual attack.
During the hearing, May's lawyer described the situation as very sad, saying he has organized a psychological assessment.
She will be sentenced next month

Radio New Zealand
May 3 2007; 17:52

Woman admits faking rape complaint

A south Auckland woman has admitted she lied about being raped, a claim that sparked a major police investigation.
At Papakura District Court on Thursday, sickness beneficiary Nicola May, 41, pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false statement to police.
The court heard that she developed an elaborate story in April about a man posing as a plain-clothes police officer and forcing his way into her home.
Police say she pulled out her own hair and used a hammer to induce bleeding and to make what appeared to be the trauma resulting from a sexual attack. She was trying to get the attention of a married man with whom she had recently had a sexual relationship.
Outside court May said police treated her with respect and compassion and urged legitimate rape victims to come forward.
During the hearing, May's lawyer, Colin Amery, said his client has problems with depression and alcohol abuse. He described the situation as very sad, saying he has organised a psychological assessment. She will be sentenced next month.
The incident sparked a three-day $60,000 police investigation.The court heard that it is unlikely the cost of the investigation can be recovered, given May's circumstances.

One News
May 3 2007

Guilty plea for false rape complaint

The woman who sparked a major police inquiry after she falsely made a rape allegation has pleaded guilty.
Nicola May, 41, pleaded guilty to lying about being brutally raped by a man impersonating a policeman.
The prosecution says May went to elaborate lengths to try to convince authorities that she had been raped, including injuring herself and trashing her apartment.
May told police the the rapist tricked his way into her home by posing as an undercover police officer, threatened her with a hand gun and sexually assaulted her over a three hour period.
In court on Thursday she apologised in a letter to the court. And after her appearance, May urged victims of rape and sexual abuse not to let her actions affect them.
The charge of making a false statement carries a penalty of three months in prison or a fine of up to $2,000.
May will be sentenced in June.

Stuff
May 3 2007

False rape claim made after lover's rejection
by Kim Ruscoe with NZPA

A Papakura woman deliberately fabricated a home-invasion rape scene to get the attention of a former lover.
Nicola Alison May, 41, a sickness beneficiary who previously worked as a pharmacist, pleaded guilty to making a false rape complaint when she appeared in Papakura District Court today. She was remanded on bail in order to reappear for sentencing on June 8.
In a brief statement outside the court she said she had only one thing to say and it was directed at victims of rape or sexual abuse.
"I hope that my actions do not stop you from coming forward in seeking help because the help that is available from the police and other support agencies is the absolute best that is available," she said.
May said that at every moment police would treat victims of sexual abuse with respect and without judgement.
"Please don't let my actions stand in your way."
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Tony Easter said May had become attracted to one of the labourers who helped her move into flat, shortly before the alleged false rape, and they had sex on one occasion. The next time they met, the man, who was married with a young family, ended the affair because of feelings of guilt.
May became depressed and upset and started to think about ways to regain his attention. She decided to say that she had been raped and started planning how the 'scenario' would be played out.
Once 'raped' she planned to go to the doctor and present the appropriate trauma which she believed would satisfy that it was a genuine rape.
Police said she made numerous preparations before the she laid the false rape complaint with the doctor. She cut her telephone line, pulled out clumps of her hair, rubbed her knees on the carpet until they bled and scratched her buttocks.
Police said she did not want police to be involved but they were called after she went to the doctor.
Police said after three days she confessed that it was a false complaint.
They also said their inquiries revealed an earlier false rape allegation in May 2004.
The police inquiry cost more than $59,000 and although reparation was sought they did not expect it to be paid because May was an alcoholic with a dependency on prescription drugs.
Her lawyer, Colin Amery, said it was "a very sad case and showed how an event with relatively innocent intentions could escalate."

Newstalk ZB
May 3 2007; 10:52

Guilty plea over fake rape complaint

The South Auckland woman who falsely claimed to have been raped at gunpoint by a man posing as a plainclothes police officer last month has pleaded guilty.
Forty-one-year-old Nicola May appeared in the Papakura District Court this morning, where a name suppression order was lifted.
The prosecution says May went to elaborate lengths to try to convince authorities that she had been raped, including injuring herself and trashing her apartment

NZ Herald
May 3 2007; 11:25

Woman made false rape claim after jilted by lover
by David Eames with NZPA

A woman who claimed she was raped in her home by a man pretending to be a police officer today admitted in court that she made up the allegation.
The court heard Nicola Alison May fabricated the allegation after being jilted by a lover.
The Papakura woman potentially faces a $60,000 bill in police and other costs after sparking a major inquiry last month.
Speaking outside court, May told a large media contingent that genuine rape victims not to be put off going to police.
She said: "I hope that my actions do not stop you from coming forward in seeking help because the help that is available from the police and other support agencies is the absolute best that is available."
May, 41, pleaded guilty to one charge of making a false allegation to police when she appeared in the Papakura District Court today.
The court was told that May developed an attraction to a man who helped her move into her Papakura home, but when he broke it off because he was married and felt guilty she wanted to do something to win back his affections.
Before she went to a doctor to lay the false complaint May made numerous preparations.
Police said she cut her telephone line, pulled out clumps of her hair, rubbed her knees on the carpet until they bled and scratched her buttocks.
She also put a condom over a hammer handle and used it to create sexual attack trauma.
She did not want police to be involved but they were called after she went to the doctor, the court was told.
Police said after three days May confessed it was a false complaint.
A police summary of facts read to the court revealed May had also made a false rape allegation in 2004 but that complaint was not forwarded to police.
That complaint came to light through inquiries into her past and that of her previous partners.
May was remanded on bail to June 8 for sentencing. A psychiatric report and reparation report are pending.
The total cost of the inquiry into the false complaint was $59,382, made up chiefly of 670 police man-hours, which totalled $48,119.
The rest of the bill was comprised of medical examination costs, cleaning, forensic and security services.
Police said in court that attempting to reclaim the money from May may not be realistic as May is an alcoholic with a dependency on prescription drugs.

Evidence Act fears disputed

2007-04-24T21:07:00.000+12:00

Mark Burton

One News
April 24 2007

Burton: Strict rules on act changes

The government claims video records used as evidence in court will not be able to be copied.

The new Evidence Act, due to come into effect later this year, means video-taped interviews with the victims must be handed to the accused's lawyer before any trial. Up until now rapists, paedophiles and their lawyers could only watch video of victim interviews at police stations

National police coordinator for sex abuse cases, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Holden, has expressed fear the law change could see sexually-abused children victimised again by their abuser, with video taped interviews of their evidence posted on the internet and viewed as trophies by abusers.

But Justice Minister Mark Burton says the Evidence Act also places stringent regulations on the storage of tapes. He says the legislation bans the release of the tape to the defendant and sets out that the use of video records must be in line with regulations.

Burton says the safeguards will ensure that the video evidence is only used to ensure a fair trial and then returned and that videos do not fall into the hands of defendants or anyone else.

Radio NZ
April 24 2007; 16:28

Court evidence safeguards under development - minister

Justice Minister Mark Burton says safeguards are being developed on the use of court evidence.

Police and sexual abuse experts are concerned offenders will have access to videotaped evidence from witnesses, which will be provided to defence lawyers under the Evidence Act.

But Mr Burton says the Justice Ministry is developing restrictions on the use of video recordings.

He says defence lawyers will be required to use secure storage, copying will be banned and material will have to be returned when cases are finished.

Mr Burton says the safeguards will ensure video evidence is used only to ensure a fair trial and does not fall into the hands of defendants or anyone else.

NZ Government
April 24 2007; 16:03

Video Evidence Under Scrutiny
Press Release

Video records used as evidence in court will be subject to a ban on copying and stringent regulations on their storage, use and return, Justice Minister Mark Burton said today.

The Evidence Act, which was passed in November though is not yet in effect, replaces most of the existing evidence law on the admissibility and use of evidence in court proceedings.

The new legislation provides for the provision of a copy of a video record to the lawyer for each party before it is offered in evidence, unless the Judge directs otherwise. The legislation does not authorise release to the defendant personally and sets out that the use of video records must be dealt with in line with regulations.

These regulations are currently being developed by the Justice Ministry and will be in place before the Act comes into effect later this year.

"I have instructed Justice officials to ensure that a number of restrictions are included in the regulations. These safeguards will ensure that the video evidence is only used to ensure a fair trial and then returned, and that the videos do not fall into the hands of defendants or anyone else."
The types of restrictions that will be put in place as part of the regulations around video records include:

· A blanket ban on copying the video record.
· Requiring secure storage of the video record.
· Return of the video record at the conclusion of the case.
· Specifying how the video record may be used.

The Justice and Electoral Select Committee, which recommended the inclusion of this provision when considering the Bill, was aware of the risk to confidentiality that video records may create and so recommended that regulations be made governing the copying, custody, and return of copies of video records. The Select Committee added the regulation making power to the Act, requiring lawyers for each party to comply with the requirements set out in regulations.

NZ Herald
April 24 2007; 13:20

Minister tries to allay fears about sex case videos
NZPA

Justice Minister Mark Burton says there will be strict regulations on videos used in court evidence after fears were raised that offenders would see them as trophies.

Mr Burton said video records used as evidence in court would be subject to a ban on copying and stringent regulations on their storage, use and return.

The Evidence Act, passed in November but not yet in effect, changes evidence law on the admissibility and use of evidence in court proceedings. It allows a copy of a video record to the lawyer for each party before it is offered in evidence, unless the judge directs otherwise.

Police and child abuse experts raised concerns that offenders such as rapists or paedophiles could prize the videos as trophies or get satisfaction out of them.

But Mr Burton said the legislation did not authorise release to the defendant personally and would be controlled by regulations being developed by the Justice Ministry.

"I have instructed Justice officials to ensure that a number of restrictions are included in the regulations," Mr Burton said.

"These safeguards will ensure that the video evidence is only used to ensure a fair trial and then returned, and that the videos do not fall into the hands of defendants or anyone else."

Regulations would include:
· Blanket ban on copying the video record,
· requiring secure storage of the video record,
· return of the video record at the conclusion of the case, and
· specifying how the video record may be used.

Newstalk ZB
April 24 2007; 12:04

Govt disputes Evidence Act fears

The Government claims video records used as evidence in court will not be able to be copied.

Justice Minister Mark Burton says the Evidence Act which will come into effect later this year, also places stringent regulations on the storage of tapes. He says the legislation bans the release of the tape to the defendant and sets out that the use of video records must be in line with regulations.

Mr Burton says the safeguards will ensure that the video evidence is only used to ensure a fair trial and then returned and that videos do not fall into the hands of defendants or anyone else.

National police coordinator for Sex Abuse cases, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Holden, yesterday expressed fear the law change could see sexually-abused children victimised again by their abuser, with video taped interviews of their evidence posted on the internet and viewed as trophies by abusers.

Newswire
April 24 2007; 12:03

Safeguards On Court Evidence Being Developed

Justice Minister Mark Burton says safeguards are being developed on the use of court evidence.

Police and sexual abuse experts are concerned offenders will have access to videotaped evidence from witnesses, which will be provided to defence lawyers under the Evidence Act.

But Mr Burton says the Justice Ministry is developing restrictions on the use of video records.

He says defence lawyers will be required to use secure storage, copying will be banned and material will have to be returned when cases are finished.

Mr Burton says the safeguards will ensure video evidence is only used to ensure a fair trial and does not fall into the hands of defendants or anyone else.

200th DNA exoneration

2007-04-24T20:05:00.000+12:00

Stuff
April 24 2007

US sees 200th DNA conviction reversal
Reuters

CHICAGO: A man convicted of rape in 1982 was exonerated on the basis of DNA evidence, the 200th time in the United States that such technology has reversed a conviction, lawyers who worked for the man said.

"I want to get on with my life. . . have a life," said Jerry Miller, 48, after an appearance in Cook County Circuit Court where a judge tossed out his conviction at the request of prosecutors.

The New York-based Innocence Project, which has pursued such cases, said it marked the 200th DNA exoneration since 1989. Miller, it said, served 24 years in jail before a parole. In all the 200 people exonerated by DNA evidence served 2475 years in prison for crimes they didn't commit, it said.

"They are just the tip of the iceberg. Nobody truly knows how many innocent people are in prison. Only a small fraction of cases involve evidence that could be tested for DNA and even among those cases, evidence is often lost or destroyed before it can be tested," the group said.

No substance to Dunedin rape claim

2007-04-24T06:51:00.000+12:00

Radio NZ
April 22 2007; 23:58

Dunedin police say no substance to historical police rape allegation

The police in Dunedin say there's no substance to a historical rape allegation involving a Dunedin detective.
Investigate magazine has claimed the officer sexually assaulted a female court worker at a Christmas party in 1996.
But the area commander, Inspector Dave Campbell, says "key people" who were at the party, including the supposed victim, deny anything happened.
He says while the police were called and there were some concerns about the behaviour of an off duty officer at the party, there was never any suggestion of sexual activity and no complaints were laid.

Brethren issue sensible statement

2007-04-24T06:18:00.000+12:00

Tony McCorkell, Church spokesperson:
"feel full force of law if guilty"
"innocent until proven guilty"

NZ Herald
April 24 2007

Brethren back 'full force of law' if member is sex abuser
by Jarrod Booker

An Exclusive Brethren member accused of abusing children decades ago should feel the "full force of the law" if the allegations against him are proven, the church says.
But spokesman Tony McCorkell has urged the public to give the man, in his 70s, the benefit of being considered innocent until proven guilty.
Police are gathering evidence from four women claiming abuse, in one case more than 50 years ago, and are yet to approach the Nelson man.
Superintendent Grant O'Fee said police would meet the man and church hierarchy when they had gathered sufficient information in the case.
"There's little point in interviewing the suspect until we have got all the facts in front of us."
Mr McCorkell said the church was still "pretty much in the dark" when it came to the allegations, other than the fact it was believed to be in an extended-family situation.
"We are having trouble with people coming forward and talking about it.
"We have asked the local people, with Brethren outside the town, to have a look and see what they can find out about whether the cases were raised 40-odd years ago or not.
"We certainly don't want to be seen as interfering in a police investigation."
In the meantime, the man had been asked to avoid going to church and being in uncontrolled situations where minors were present, Mr McCorkell said.
"The member will have to make his own defence as an individual. If he is found guilty, the full force of the law should apply to him."
Mr O'Fee said it was possible that others were still to come forward with abuse claims similar to those of the four women.
Mr McCorkell said the church was comfortable about anyone with abuse allegations complaining to the police.
"The church leadership is keen to hear of any issues, but it shouldn't be in place of going to the police."
Mr O'Fee said it would be weeks before "anything dramatic" happened in the case.

Support for Evidence Act changes

2007-04-23T23:44:00.000+12:00

Gary Gotlieb - Barrister

Newswire

April 23 2007; 17:38

Sex abuse evidence move common sense, says lawyer

Allowing copies of witness evidence in sexual abuse cases to be provided to defence lawyers is nothing more than commonsense, says a barrister.
Under the Evidence Act, which was passed last year but is not yet in force, recordings of witnesses giving evidence in sexual abuse cases will now be provided to defence lawyers.
Police and sexual abuse experts say they are alarmed.
But defence lawyer Gary Gotlieb says being provided with copies of witness evidence will save time and taxpayer money.
Mr Gotlieb says concerns over security are unfounded because lawyers will continue to be vigilant when handling evidence.

Rape-Abduction allegation hunt

2007-04-23T23:39:00.000+12:00

Three News
April 23 2007; 16:32

Police: Rapist will attack again if not caught

Police are sure the man, who abducted and raped a woman at knife point in West Auckland, will strike again if he's not caught.He approached the 28-year-old woman early yesterday morning, as she slept in her car after a night out drinking in Glen Eden.
Investigators believe the man, described as Polynesian, was loitering in the area before driving the victim to a nearby rugby club and raping her.
Detective Sergeant Megan Goldie is appealing to the public for information.

One News
April 23 2007

Hunt for West Auckland rapist

Police in Henderson are continuing their hunt for a Polynesian man who abducted and raped a 28-year-old woman in Glen Eden.
The woman was sleeping in her vehicle on Woodglen Road at 3am on Sunday when she was attacked.
The man pulled a knife on the woman, drove her to a nearby rugby league club and raped her.
Police spokesman Kevin Loughlin says he's a Polynesian man under 25 years old, with a number one haircut.
He's around 173 centimetres, of average build and clean shaven.
Loughlin says the man has a large eye-shaped tattoo with tribal patterns on the outside of his left thigh.
He says anyone who saw a blue Toyota Estima driving around Henderson and Titirangi on Sunday morning, registration ALA629, should contact police.

Preschool teachers ignore Ellis case

2007-04-23T21:38:00.000+12:00

The Southland Times
April 14 2007

Making a difference
by Sophie Speer

Invercargill early childhood education teacher Mike Richards loves his job and could not imagine doing anything else.
Switching from pizza-maker to teacher about nine years ago was the best decision he has ever made, he reckons. The rewards were just as great for him as for his female colleagues.
Yet he's a statistical rarity.
Nationally there is a huge shortage of male early childhood education teachers, with just 132 men, and more than 13,000 women.
In 2005, male teachers made up less than 1 percent of the total teacher numbers, dropping from almost 1.5 percent in 1998 and more than 2 percent in 1992.
Mr Richards said he could not understand why more men were not entering the workforce, but thought false perceptions played a large role.
"(Children) need role models.
(They need to know) that men are okay and safe to have cuddles with.
That it's okay to come to a bloke if they hurt themselves."
With the long hours many parents were working, children were losing the male role models, which was a tragedy, he said.
"Some dads are working two jobs and just don't have time to spend with their wee ones."
The father of four said he had not been the victim of any sideways looks or nasty comments from parents or members of the public for being a male early childhood teacher, although he thought it helped he was married with children.
"It's never bothered me, I have had nothing but enthusiasm, motivation and encouragement from other teachers and parents," Mr Richards said.
Male teachers bring a different perspective to learning, and it was important for children to be exposed to that, he said.
Female teachers were often more cautious, whereas men were a bit more adventurous – while still staying safe, and create different games and scenarios, he said.
Boys require a different type of teaching and need active games to burn off their extra energy, but Mr Richards always made sure the girls got involved, too.
Pillow fights and rugby tackles were just some of the ways he kept the children active, he said.
"For too long boys haven't been releasing their energy and we (male teachers) know how that feels."
Last month, he was involved in the first early childhood education male teacher summit, held in Christchurch as part of the Early Childhood Council's annual conference.Called the "Kiwi Men Can Do Anything Summit", it focused on the issues surrounding the small numbers of male teachers and developing strategies for getting more men into the job.
The actions of a small minority have tainted the reputation of all male teachers, which was something they focused on at the conference.
"People kept bringing up (Christchurch early childhood teacher convicted of sexually abusing children) Peter Ellis until someone said 'stop'.
He doesn't need to ruin it for everyone," Mr Richards said.
He said for many the job can be isolating, being the only male teacher in a centre, or in training, but being able to get together with other teachers was encouraging and positive.Signs have been put up at Mr Richards' workplace, Kew Pacific Island Early Childhood Centre, encouraging fathers to give the job a go.
"I don't think people actually realise they can do this job. Men would be surprised at how much enjoyment and satisfaction you get out of this job," he said.
Mr Richards trained at the southern campus of the Dunedin College of Education after speak-ing with a student there and deciding it was something he wanted to do.
His first job was in Nelson at Grove St Kindergarten, before moving south to work at Kew Pacific Island Early Childhood Centre.
He said the centre was great because they have a strong focus on whanau and family.
"To me it's not a job, it's a lifestyle." He loves that every day is different and brings new challenges.
"I love the freedom of the job, and working with the kids. These kids at this age are so cool."
Because there is no set curriculum, the teachers can work with the children's specific interests.

Radio NZ
April 2 2007; 09:25

Call for childcare centres to make men feel more welcome

The Early Childhood Council says childcare centres must try to make men feel welcome and accepted if they are to increase the number of male workers.
A council conference in Christchurch at the weekend was told that men make up less than 1% of New Zealand's 13,000 early childhood workers or helpers.
The council's chief executive, Sue Thorne, says childcare staff are sometimes initially suspicious of male colleagues and can worry about how parents will react to a male teacher.
She says they need to accept that men can be positive role models.
Ms Thorne says a change in government policy and the way teacher colleges target male students is also needed.

Ministry of Education
April 1 2007

NZ's potential in early childhood education
Press Release

New Zealand is one of the worst countries in the developed world when it comes to numbers of men working in early childhood centres, but has the potential to be one of the best, says a visiting early childhood education expert.
Co-ordinator of the Resource and Training Centre for Child Care at the University of Ghent (Belgium) Jan Peeters said New Zealand's male participation rate of less than 1% compared 'very badly' with countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Scotland and Norway (which has achieved almost 10%).
Mr Peeters was in Christchurch this weekend (ending 01 April) to address the annual conference of the Early Childhood Council and to take part in a New Zealand 'working party' tasked with attracting more men into the New Zealand early childhood sector.
Mr Peeters said that based on what he had seen whilst in the country, 'New Zealand has, despite your recent bad performance, the potential to lead the world when it comes to the participation rate of men in early childhood education'.
Countries most successful in getting men into early childhood education had involved concerted action by Government, the teacher trainers and the centres, Mr Peeters said.
'This is because centres on their own cannot attract male teachers who do not exist. Teacher trainers train new teachers for no purpose if centres do not welcome them. And Government cannot succeed with policy if the teacher trainers and centres are not committed to delivering.
'That is why I am so optimistic about New Zealand. The workshop I have just attended was remarkable by world standards. You had senior people from Government, your Universities, and your childcare centres all sitting around one table as equals and all focussed on how to get more men into the sector.
'It would not happen that way in most countries. It was all very egalitarian, all very practical, very down-to-earth, very "this is the problem, now what do we do to fix it."'
Mr Peeters said his other reason for optimism about New Zealand was 'the seemingly astonishing achievement of your kohanga reo in attracting men to working in their centres'.
'I am told it has achieved about 30%' of its teachers being male, with about half of these qualified and half in training.
'That would mean that in New Zealand you have an approach to attracting men that is world leading, that is worthy of international study.'
It had been interesting to hear how kohanga had attracted so many men to early childhood teaching, because 'many of the techniques are exactly what international research suggests should be done'.
'I am told that from day one they encourage fathers to be involved with children at their centres, fathers are involved in managing the centres, and they recognise that Maori men have a special role with children that compliments the role of women.
'They identify what individual fathers can contribute to centres as soon as they can, then once they are doing volunteer work they encourage them to train as teachers. They also recognise the importance of grandfathers, and encourage them to take an active role.'
Mr Peeters said men brought 'major benefits' to the centres where they worked.
'They provide positive male role models for both boys and girls. They teach boys it is part of the male job description to be gentle and nurturing. They provide reliable male figures for children who do not have access to father figures.
'And they provide a new source of labour for a sector that is short of trained teachers.'
New Zealand has 13,609 women and only 132 men working in its free Kindgartens, childcare centres and in homebased care. (2005 figures) Since the early 1990s the percentage of men in the sector has halved from two to less than 1%.
Mr Peeters was brought to New Zealand by the Early Childhood Council to address its annual conference (held in Christchurch from 30 March to 01 April) and to attend an Early-Childhood-Council-convened workshop tasked with devising an action plan for getting more men working in New Zealand's early childhood education centres.
Those attending the workshop came from the three main parts of the early childhood sector: Government including the Ministry of Education and Chair of Parliament's Education and Science Select Committee Hon Brian Donnelly; senior teacher educators including those from the universities of Auckland and Canterbury; and leaders from service delivery organizations such as the Kindergartens, Kohanga Reo, the New Zealand Childcare Association and the Early Childhood Council.
The workshop devised an outline plan for getting more men working it the early childhood education sector and committed to developing a more detailed plan in the coming months.

The Press
March 30 2007

Men scared of abuse label opt out of child care
By Arwen Hann

Men are put off a career in early childhood education by perceptions they are all sex abusers, a conference has been told.
Speakers at the Men in Early Child Care summit in Christchurch yesterday said negative coverage on incidents such as the Peter Ellis-Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre case stopped men entering early-childhood work because they feared being labelled child abusers.
Ellis was convicted in 1993 of sexually molesting children at the civic creche where he worked.
Ellis, who has always maintained his innocence, served two-thirds of a 10-year jail sentence.
In 1992, just 2 per cent of the early-childhood workforce was made up of men.
In 2005, men made up less than 1 per cent of the sector.
Education Ministry figures from 2005 show there were just 132 men working in early-childhood education, compared with 13,609 women.
Researcher Sarah Farquhar told the conference that although media coverage helped to place the issue of men in early-childhood education in the spotlight, it tended to focus on the negative.
"There has been lots of media coverage, but mainly about sex abuse," she said.
"They don't pick up on all the great things men are doing, but the one thing men are scared of is being accused of child abuse. Even items that try to say positive things still have that thread running through them."
However, many delegates at the summit were optimistic that the sector was beginning to put the Ellis case behind it.
David Baxendell has worked at the Edmonds Smith Street kindergarten in Woolston for 25 years.
He was one of the first men to train for early-childhood teaching in Christchurch.
He said the Ellis case cast a shadow over his profession.
"I didn't feel that people changed their attitudes of me necessarily, but it did make me change a little bit in terms of what I would do with the children and making sure I did certain things, like changing them, where people could see me," he said.
"It is a shame we can't seem to get away from the Peter Ellis case, though. It has had an effect on men in early-childhood (education)."
Baxendell said he hoped the sector was shaking off the Ellis tag.
"I think it is moving on now. Things like this conference are a great step. It is great to see so many men in the sector getting together like this. Hopefully, we can continue to move forward," he said.
North Shore Community Centre worker Adam Buckingham said the positive aspects needed to be highlighted: "It is a very rewarding job and every day is different".
"Men can be nurturers but can also bring different teaching styles, which can help children. We need to publicise those things."
Farquhar said she hoped that men in early-childhood education were starting to receive more positive coverage and that the sector's leaders would become more supportive.
"I think there is a change in the view and hopefully important people like the Ministry of Education and Teach New Zealand will recognise that," she said.

Kim McGregor - Inhibiting defence

2007-04-23T14:09:00.000+12:00

Dominion Post
April 23 2007

Fears abuse videos could be 'trophies'
by Emily Watt

Rapists and paedophiles could soon watch videotaped interviews of their victims reliving the ordeal - and trade them on the internet.
Police and child abuse experts have warned that specialist interviews with abuse victims, taped as part of an investigation, could become "trophies" for offenders under the new Evidence Act, which will provide copies of the videos to lawyers.
Paedophiles could get sexual gratification from children describing the abuse, the experts say. They fear the law might dissuade other victims from reporting abuse.
"The possibility of child sex offenders getting hold of a copy of this material and being able to retain it and do what they like is repugnant. It's grossly unfair," said Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Holden, the national coordinator of adult sexual assault and child abuse cases.
At the moment, defence lawyers and the accused can view the taped interviews to prepare their defence, but only in police stations, where the tapes are kept locked up.
The act, which has been passed but is not yet in force, states that a copy of any video must now be given to the lawyer for both sides before it is offered as court evidence, unless a judge directs otherwise.
The law and order select committee, which recommended the clause, noted there were risks to confidentiality but said lawyers were governed by a code of conduct that would protect vulnerable witnesses.
But critics say allowing the tapes out into the public creates a "significant possibility" they could fall into the wrong hands.
Mr Holden said if sex offenders manipulated a lawyer or stole a tape, the consequences would be catastrophic. "It would set our complainants back - not just the individuals, but as a group - 10 or 20 years. Their fear of having trust in the system would be so strong they wouldn't come forward.
"It would be a high-value commodity. We have to be so vigilant in not allowing that to happen."
Psychologists and counsellors are also alarmed by the law. Rape Prevention Education director Kim McGregor said she had great concerns about defence lawyers getting videos, given the potential for copies to be made.
"There's clinical evidence of offenders enjoying just audiotapes of children being abused. These videos could be used for sexual gratification," Dr McGregor said.
Clinical psychologist Nigel Latta said: "It would be a very bad thing to let offenders get copies of those video interviews, even their lawyers."
But criminal lawyer Grant Burston, convener of the New Zealand Law Society evidence law reform committee, said regulations would be drafted to control access to the videos, to restrict or ban copies being made, and to enforce their return.
A Justice Ministry spokesman said these regulations would be in place before the act took effect

One News

April 23 2007

Concerns over Evidence Act changes

Experts fear victims of sexual crime won't come forward after an act was passed allowing defence lawyers and their rapist clients to have video footage of victims giving police evidence.
The new Evidence Act, due to come into effect later this year, means video-taped interviews with the victims must be handed to the accused's lawyer before any trial. Up until now rapists, paedophiles and their lawyers could only watch video of victim interviews at police stations
National Coordinator for Sex Abuse cases, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Holden says child sex offenders are incredibly manipulating and conniving. He fears they will find a way to make copies of the tapes to keep as trophies.
Police say sexual crime is seriously under-reported and the new law will push victims further into the shadows
"If they don't feel safe, if they feel they're going to be further significantly abused by the system those are very sound reasons why we're not getting very many reports," says Holden.
He says the current system works perfectly well.
Rape Crisis also wants the status quo to remain.
Spokeswoman Dr Kim MacGregor says when survivors of sexual violence give statements to police, they are often giving graphic details of the violation and humiliation they've experienced.
"We know that some sex offenders get a thrill witnessing the fear and devastation that they cause people that they have abused," she says.
The Justice Minister and the Ministry of Justice have both said the amendment, made by the Law and Order Select Committee is in the interests of equal justice and that regulations will be drafted to control access to the videos.

Lynley Hood - Exposed hysteria

2007-04-23T14:04:00.000+12:00

The Press
April 17 2007

Compensation payout a victory for process over justice
by Karl du Fresne

There is something deeply troubling about the compensation recently paid to the convicted murderer Andrew Ronald MacMillan for defamation.
MacMillan is serving a life sentence for the 1988 murder of Dunedin teenager Jayne Maree McLellan. It was as savage a killing as can be imagined.
Several Fairfax-owned papers injured the obviously sensitive MacMillan's feelings by calling him a rapist, when he was never charged with rape. With money provided by the Government's Legal Services Agency, MacMillan sued.
It was previously my understanding that you couldn't defame someone with no reputation left to protect, which I would have thought described MacMillan perfectly.
But it was the opinion of Fairfax's lawyers that he had a strong case – in fact, was likely to win. Faced with the prospect of expensive court proceedings, Fairfax decided to settle out of court by paying MacMillan an undisclosed sum in compensation for the error.
There are so many worrying aspects of this case that it's hard to know where to start. Let's accept, first, that newspapers have a duty to get things right. But surely that must be weighed against the damage, if any, suffered by the aggrieved party.
I would argue that MacMillan no longer had a reputation to defend. He committed a singularly sadistic murder.
He stripped his victim almost naked, sat on top of her, stabbed her repeatedly, broke her jaw, stuffed stones down her windpipe to stop her screaming and nearly bit off one of her nipples. How could his reputation in the eyes of ``right-thinking citizens'' – the standard test in defamation – be lowered by calling him a rapist?
So he didn't rape his victim, or at least wasn't charged with it. But he violated her in multiple other inhuman ways – including the ultimate violation, which was to deprive her of life. How could his reputation be further tarnished?
The legal position, evidently, is that someone who has done something unspeakably vile can still stand on their rights if they're wrongly accused of doing something else that's bad. Does this mean a mass murderer – say, Radovan Karadzic – would have grounds to sue if someone accused them of shoplifting, or parking in a space reserved for the disabled? Could Graeme Burton take me to court if I said he picked his nose? Interesting.
Then there's the role of the Legal Services Agency in all this. On Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint, Fairfax editorial chief Peter O'Hara was grilled as if he were responsible for this wretched state of affairs.
The Legal Services Agency was let off the hook. Yet it was the LSA which, by granting MacMillan legal aid, made it possible for him to sue and win compensation (The legal aid came to $9225, which has been repaid).
No doubt the LSA would say it was only fulfilling its statutory brief, but does that make it right? I think I know how most New Zealanders would answer that question.
The letter of the law may have been followed in this case, but justice wasn't done. It's an example of due process being followed but producing an outcome which, by any commonsense yardstick, was plain wrong.
* * *
It's a bit rich of Bill Ralston to accuse his former employer, TVNZ, of threatening to destroy a proud public broadcasting tradition with its plan to shed up to 60 news and current affairs staff. The destruction of TVNZ's reputation as a credible source of news and current affairs was accomplished long ago. It began nearly 20 years ago when TVNZ, acting on advice from outside consultants, began turning news and current affairs into tabloid infotainment.
That was when TVNZ started nurturing an in-house celebrity cult that made stars of people like Paul Holmes and Judy Bailey, and newsreaders adopted the practice of feeding viewers with cues (such as Bailey's arched eyebrows) as to how they should react emotionally to news items. Brian Edwards memorably called it the ``coochie-coo'' news. Ralston, as head of news and current affairs from 2003 till recently, could have done something to reverse the deterioration. As far as we can tell, he didn't. If anything, TVNZ news and current affairs became even more of a circus under his watch. It's a bit late now to be extolling the values of public service broadcasting.
* * *
Many of us have experienced a time in our lives when we have sensed that a serious wrong has been done, or was about to be done. Most of us put it out of our minds, deciding that we don't have the time, the ability or the money to do anything about it. Figuratively speaking, we turn over and go back to sleep. Thank God, then, for people whose conscience won't let them go back to sleep – people like Pat Booth, who campaigned for Arthur Allan Thomas; Lynley Hood, who exposed the hysteria behind the Peter Ellis case; and Joe Karam, who has campaigned tirelessly and at great expense for David Bain.
Karam will soon find out whether the last-gasp appeal on Bain's behalf, before the Privy Council, has been successful. I don't claim to know whether Bain is guilty or innocent; but I do know that society would be immeasurably worse off without people like Karam, who are willing to make enormous sacrifices, with no prospect of personal gain, where they believe an injustice has been done.

The Dominion Post
April 17 2007

Justice not always served by letter of the law
by Karl du Fresne

There is something deeply troubling about the compensation recently paid to convicted murderer Andrew Ronald MacMillan for defamation.
MacMillan is serving a life sentence for the 1988 murder of Dunedin teenager Jayne Maree McLellan. It was as savage a killing as can be imagined.
Several Fairfax-owned papers injured the obviously sensitive MacMillan's feelings by calling him a rapist, when he was never charged with rape. With money provided by the government's Legal Services Agency, MacMillan sued.
It was previously my understanding that you couldn't defame someone with no reputation left to protect, which I would have thought described MacMillan perfectly.
But it was the opinion of Fairfax's lawyers that he had a strong case – in fact, was likely to win. Faced with the prospect of expensive court proceedings, Fairfax decided to settle out of court by paying MacMillan an undisclosed sum in compensation for the error.
There are so many worrying aspects of this case that it's hard to know where to start. Let's accept, first, that newspapers have a duty to get things right. But surely that must be weighed against the damage, if any, suffered by the aggrieved party.
I would argue that MacMillan no longer had a reputation to defend. He committed a singularly sadistic murder. He stripped his victim almost naked, sat on top of her, stabbed her repeatedly, broke her jaw, stuffed stones down her windpipe to stop her screaming and nearly bit off one of her nipples. How could his reputation in the eyes of "right-thinking citizens" – the standard test in defamation – be lowered by calling him a rapist?
So he didn't rape his victim, or at least wasn't charged with it. But he violated her in multiple other inhuman ways – including the ultimate violation, which was to deprive her of life. How could his reputation be further tarnished?
The legal position, evidently, is that someone who has done something unspeakably vile can still stand on their rights if they're wrongly accused of doing something else that's bad. Does this mean a mass murderer – say, Radovan Karadzic- would have grounds to sue if someone accused them of shoplifting, or parking in a space reserved for the disabled?
Could Graeme Burton take me to court if I said he picked his nose? Interesting.
Then there's the role of the Legal Services Agency in all this. On Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint, Fairfax editorial chief Peter O'Hara was grilled as if he were responsible for this wretched state of affairs. The Legal Services Agency was let off the hook.
Yet it was the LSA which, by granting MacMillan legal aid, made it possible for him to sue and win compensation. (The legal aid came to $9225, which has been repaid.)
No doubt the LSA would say it was only fulfilling its statutory brief, but does that make it right? I think I know how most New Zealanders would answer that question.
The letter of the law may have been followed in this case, but justice wasn't done. It's an example of due process being followed but producing an outcome which, by any commonsense yardstick, was plain wrong.
It is a bit rich of Bill Ralston to accuse his former employer, TVNZ, of threatening to destroy a proud public broadcasting tradition with its plan to shed up to 60 news and current affairs staff.
The destruction of TVNZ's reputation as a credible source of news and current affairs was accomplished long ago. It began nearly 20 years ago when TVNZ, acting on advice from outside consultants, began turning news and current affairs into tabloid infotainment. That was when TVNZ started nurturing an in-house celebrity cult that made stars of people such as Paul Holmes and Judy Bailey, and newsreaders adopted the practice of feeding viewers with cues (such as Bailey's arched eyebrows) as to how they should react emotionally to news items. Brian Edwards memorably called it the "coochie- coo" news.
Ralston, as head of news and current affairs from 2003 till recently, could have done something to reverse the deterioration. As far as we can tell, he didn't. If anything, TVNZ news and current affairs became even more of a circus under his watch. It's a bit late now to be extolling the values of public service broadcasting.

Many of us have experienced a time in our lives when we have sensed that a serious wrong has been done, or was about to be done. Most of us put it out of our minds, deciding that we don't have the time, the ability or the money to do anything about it. Figuratively speaking, we turn over and go back to sleep.
Thank God, then, for people whose conscience won't let them go back to sleep - people like Pat Booth, who campaigned for Arthur Allan Thomas; Lynley Hood, who exposed the hysteria behind the Peter Ellis case; and Joe Karam, who has campaigned tirelessly and at great expense for David Bain.
Karam will soon find out whether the last-gasp appeal on Bain's behalf, before the Privy Council, has been successful.
I don't claim to know whether Bain is guilty or innocent; but I do know that society would be immeasurably worse off without people like Karam, who are willing to make enormous sacrifices, with no prospect of personal gain, where they believe an injustice has been done.

Custody case dad tells story

2007-04-23T08:10:00.000+12:00

The Dominion Post
April 23 2007

Custody battle dad tells of 'crying from your heart'
by Paul Easton

Easter eggs delivered through lawyers and years of frustration mark the way the New Zealand justice system deals with child access cases.
That's the view of a man at the centre of a case that caused the United Nations Human Rights Committee to criticise the way our legal system works last week.
"You are out of your element, you are not in your house, they are in theirs. You're like a fish out of water," he said.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, began a child-access battle with his estranged wife in November, 2000.
Since then, allegations of sexual abuse have been made, and protection orders filed.
Almost seven years later the case is still ongoing.
Police became involved, but decided not to press charges after a 20-month investigation.
The case ended up at the Court of Appeal – that process taking three years and four months.
The man was eventually denied access to his daughters and an issue over access to his son is back before the Family Court.
New Zealand human rights lawyer Tony Ellis took the man's case to the UN human rights committee which found that the lengthy proceedings had breached the man's rights.
The committee said "the very nature" of custody and access cases meant they must be resolved quickly before the interests of a non-custodial parent are "irreparably harmed".
The man said later that he was thrilled with the decision, but the drawn-out proceedings had taken their toll.
"It's hard to describe. It feels like you are crying from your heart," he said. "They (the children) are only a few miles away but you can't see them. You live with it all the time."
The man said he might seek compensation through the High Court, and still wants to fight for access to his children, whom he has not spent time with for seven years.
Police in New Zealand were not properly resourced to deal with the case, he said. "They would start to look at it, then something would come up and it would all stop again."
The Government has three months to present remedies for the situation to the UN Human Rights Committee.
The man's new partner said they hoped by speaking out they would help people going through the same thing.
"The way the system is there is no protection. It can happen to anyone."

Brethren man excluded from church

2007-04-23T08:09:00.000+12:00

Newstalk ZB
April 23 2007; 06:32

Brethren man excluded from church

A member of the Exclusive Brethren who is under police investigation for alleged sexual abuse is being kept away from the church.
Brethren spokesman Tony McCorkell says an elderly man is at the centre of the claims and the church is co-operating fully with police. He is urging anyone with any other claims to come forward and talk with officers.
The man has been excluded from church and from interacting with minors until the investigation is complete

Rape, Abduction investigated

2007-04-22T23:00:00.000+12:00

Newstalk ZB
April 22 2007; 17:56

Glen Eden Rape and abduction

Police in Waitakere City are investigating the rape and abduction of a 28-year-old woman.
Detective Constable Rachel Inskeep of the Henderson police says a Polynesian man approached the vehicle the woman was sleeping in on Woodglen Road in Glen Eden about three o'clock this morning. She says the man pulled out a knife and got into the vehicle, drove the woman to a nearby rugby league club, and raped her.
Police want to speak with anyone who saw a blue Toyota Estima in the area.
The man is described as under 25 years old, with a 'number one' haircut, of average build and clean shaven. he was wearing a brown hoody jacket with white patches on the front, and green camouflage pants to his knees with white socks and blue jandals.
He has a large eye-shaped tattoo with a tribal pattern on the outside of his left thigh.

Radio NZ
April 22 2007; 17:52

Woman allegedly raped after falling asleep in car

Police are investigating the alleged abduction and rape of a 28-year-old woman who went to sleep in a car outside a party in the Auckland suburb of Glen Eden.
Police say the incident happened about 3am on Sunday morning in Woodglen Road.
Detective Sergeant Megan Goldie says the woman woke to find someone tapping on her car window.
Mr Goldie says the man may have been loitering in the street for some time before the attack.
He is described as Polynesian, under 25, with short hair, of average build and height and with a large, eye-shaped tattoo on his left thigh.

Three News
April 22; 17:03

Police hunt man after woman abducted, raped in Auckland

Police in the Auckland suburb of Henderson are hunting a man who abducted and raped a woman in Glen Eden early this morning.The Polynesian man aged under 25 approached a 28-year-old woman as she was sleeping in her car on Woodglen Road at about 3:00am.
The man threatened the woman with a knife, drove her to a nearby rugby league club and raped her.
Police say the man is clean shaven with a number one haircut and a large eye-shaped tattoo with a tribal pattern on his left thigh.
They want to speak to anyone who saw a blue Toyota Astina, registration ALA629 around the Glen Eden and Titirangi area early this morning.

Apology for false rape rejected

2007-04-22T08:28:00.000+12:00

Sunday Star Times
April 22 2007

Apology for false rape rejected
by Leigh Van der Stoep

Neighbours and police have rejected an apology by the south Auckland woman who falsely claimed she was raped by an armed man posing as a plain-clothes policeman.
Sources estimate the cost of the three-day police investigation into the false complaint could be as high as $70,000.
In a letter to her neighbours, the 41-year-old, who has name suppression, said she was "so very sorry" for the "distress and disruption" her false complaint caused.
"I realise that my false complaint has caused unnecessary worry and anger for you and others in this community."
She also verbally apologised to police for wasting their time. But investigation head Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said: "It's an apology, but at the end of the day it's too little too late."
The photocopied letter - obtained by the Sunday Star-Times - was distributed to the eight units in the Papakura block of flats where the woman claimed she was attacked.
She told police a man dressed in a suit tricked his way into her flat at lunchtime on Thursday April 12 and sexually violated her at gunpoint over 2<<1/2 hours.
The complaint sparked a three-day full-scale investigation by a team of 30 police officers.
Grimstone could not be drawn on the cost, but said it had been calculated "to the last cent". The information would be produced as part of the summary of facts during a court appearance next month.
Victim Support Counties Manukau manager Michael Donoghue said the false complaint could make rape victims reluctant to complain to police.
"Our fear would be that genuine victims may feel like they won't be taken seriously," he said.
In the apology letter, the woman said she never meant to "undermine the needs of (legitimate) victims or the professionalism of the NZ police".
She apologised to her neighbours for inviting "police presence and media intrusion".
"It is a basic right that all should feel comfortable and secure in their own homes. I realise that my false complaint has caused unnecessary worry and anger for you, and others in the community."
She said she would be moving out of the address "in due course".
"It is vital that you are happy with your neighbours as it is a caring and trusting environment."
The letters were handwritten and photocopied. Each was personally signed.
"Again, I am so very sorry for the damage my complaint has caused...
"I will be seeking professional help and wish you a peaceful return to normal life."
One neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Brian, replied to her.
"I just told her to keep her head up and be strong," he said.
He invited her to contact him if she needed support.
"Everybody needs someone to talk to."
Some neighbours were sympathetic to the woman's plight, but others were angry, he said.
Brian urged people not to judge the woman because no one knew the personal struggles she might be dealing with.
The Star-Times spoke to an elderly female neighbour who left her home in the days following the complaint. She was afraid the "attacker" would strike again and was upset by the media presence.
At the time, the complaint prompted Grimstone to warn women to check police credentials before opening their doors.
On Sunday the woman was charged with making a false statement to police. She spent the night in a police cell and appeared in Papakura District Court on Monday and was remanded on bail.
When asked if he knew whether the woman was staying with friends or family, Grimstone said: "I don't know and I don't care. Clearly this makes it difficult for genuine victims. And the other thing is, what about all the good people that those 30 police officers could have helped while they were tied up with this bloody fabrication."
The conditions of the woman's bail prevent her from drinking alcohol, taking illicit drugs, and entering licensed premises

False rape claims - Comment

2007-04-21T15:14:00.000+12:00

From top: Neville Robertson, Jan Jordan, Kim McGregor

Academics minimising and excusing false allegations

The question is: Why are these academics so quick to denigrate the problem of false allegations?

Both rape, and false allegations of rape are serious crimes, and prevention of both is important.

peterellis.org.nz

April 18 2007

False rape claim case highlights significant problem.

Media Release

The recent false rape hoax highlights a problem that is unfortunately far too common, spokesperson for peterellis.org.nz, Brian Robinson says.

The crime of false allegation is not rare. In the last decade there have been over 400 cases each year of proven cases, the majority relating to false allegations of sex offences. Most of these cases are not publicised.

There are also many more cases where false allegations occur but the perpetrator does not confess. In these cases the victims suffer severely, and some are even wrongly convicted. Very few victims are as fortunate as Clint Rickards was, to have a family photograph of himself in a plaster cast that indicated the complainant was lying.

It is unfortunate that the media sought comment about the latest hoax from people who have a history of minimising the problem of false sex allegations. Their response was sadly predictable.

Dr Kim McGregor of Rape Crisis claims that only two to six percent of rape allegations are made up. The only thing made up are the statistics that she provides. Psychology lecturer Dr Neville Robertson says that false complaints are extremely rare. He is presumably basing his claim on the tiny proportion of false rape complaints that are reported in the media.

Victoria academic Dr Jan Jordan provides an excuse for perpetrators by claiming - without justification - that they may have been sexually abused. She could well study the more common reasons why false complaints are made.

Regardless of how common or uncommon the problem of false allegations is, all allegations should be treated seriously, and investigated impartially. Justice for real rape victims is not enhanced by simply routinely believing the stories of those making false allegations.

Rape Hoax Part 5 - 17th

2007-04-21T15:06:00.000+12:00

Woman: False rape complaint

The Nelson Mail

April 17 2007

Anger and relief

Editorial

Residents of Papakura, Auckland, felt scared and apprehensive after claims that a gun-toting rapist had struck in their area, the Nelson Mail said in an editorial on Tuesday.
A 41-year-old woman told police late last week that a well-dressed Maori or Pacific Islander posing as an undercover policeman knocked on her door, threatened her with a gun and sexually violated her.
Naturally, residents feared he would strike again unless quickly identified and captured. But alarm turned to anger on Sunday after police revealed the woman was being charged with making a false claim, and there was no armed rapist after all.
The community outrage is understandable. Residents in the vicinity of the alleged attack had been needlessly frightened. Significant police resources had been diverted. Worse, false rape complaints seem to happen quite often.
It would be most unfortunate if rape victims opted not to report genuine attacks because they feared being disbelieved as a result of cases like this.
They face enough stress and strain in the event of their allegation going to trial as it is. However, the more appropriate community response should be relief that the alleged attack did not happen.
Though the full story has yet to come out and perhaps never will, there might also be a tinge of pity for the complainant.
Police describe the case as sad and tragic. Her claim may well have been a cry for help. Regardless of the Papakura incident, rape is among the gravest of crimes and investigating such claims must always have priority.
The police cannot let their response to future complaints be affected by any climate of scepticism generated by cases like this one.

Manawatu Standard

April 17 2007

Lasting damage of false rape claim

Editorial by Ewan Sargent

Police say a woman who claimed she had been raped by a man posing as a plain clothes police officer was telling lies and she has been referred to "appropriate health professionals".
The visibly relieved policeman running the case told us that he could allay fears of any gun-toting rapist running around.
The attack didn't happen, he said. It was a sad, tragic case, and the woman whose claims had kept 30 police busy over three days had "some issues to say the least".
And so ended the first part of a particularly grim case for a number of reasons.
It's still grim for the woman involved, who now faces court charges over making a false complaint, plus the internal anguish she must already be going through anyway.
It's also grim because of the damage that all false rape and sexual attack claimants do to genuine victims.
It makes their attempts to have their story heard and believed, and to tap in to support, that much harder.
People are quick to feel sympathy for a rape victim and anger for the rapist. But they are also quick to feel anger if it turns out they were duped and their sympathy was pointless.
Women who falsely claim they were raped and sexually attacked undermine this sympathy and feed baseless stereotypes of behaviour that some men tend to support.
That's the negative side of this case, but the good side is how quickly police were able to reassure the public that no police officer was involved and that no one had impersonated a police officer, either.
Neither the police, nor the public need another issue of police-linked rape claims dominating our headlines once again.
Obviously, there's a likelihood that the recent high- publicity trials concerning police officers and rape could have had some influence in this latest case.
It's an issue that's been well aired and the police face a lot of ground to cover to win back some of the respect they must have lost through those trials. As with false rape complainants, the bad taint the good.
We should continue to judge the police on the vast majority of good officers and support rape complainants based on the vast majority of genuine victims.

The Southland Times

April 17 2007

Police won't pursue cost of investigating rape claim

by Kim Ruscoe

Police say they will not try to reclaim the "huge" amount spent investigating a Papakura woman's allegedly false rape complaint.
The woman, who said she was raped at gunpoint by a man claiming to be a police officer, cried when she appeared in the Papakura District Court yesterday, a day after being charged with making a false complaint.
A team of 30 police spent three days investigating her claim.
But inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said yesterday police would not pursue the costs if the woman was convicted.
"It's not a realistic thing to ask for, it's such a huge figure no judge will award it anyway," he said.
Police have previously costed their time at $80 an hour, with medical expenses as much as $1500, putting the cost of the latest case at possibly $60,000.
The woman had told police an armed man posing as a plainclothes police officer had "tricked" his way into her Papakura flat on Thursday, saying he was conducting routine inquiries and calling her by name.
She claimed that once he was inside, she was stripped naked and repeatedly violated for almost three hours.
The woman, 41, wiped a tear from her face as she stood in the dock at court yesterday charged with making a false complaint.
She was granted interim name suppression because a relative had just been told she had a terminal illness and it would be a shock for her to learn of the charges.
She was given bail by justice of the peace Tony Charman, who ordered her to live at an address in Papakura, report twice a week to police and stay away from illicit drugs and alcohol.
The court was told the woman had been seen by a forensic psychiatrist who had mentioned a dependency on alcohol and drugs in his letter to the court.
She will reappear in court on May 3.
Shortly afterwards, a man and woman believed to be the woman's relatives stormed from the court and barged their way through waiting media.
The man ran down the shop-lined street, turned, ran back in front of a television camera, then jumped in a passing police car. The woman continued walking down the street but refused to comment.
Minutes later, the accused woman was rushed from the courtroom under police escort, hiding her face and carrying a plastic police-issue bag containing her possessions.
She refused to make any comment as she was walked around the corner to the police station.
After the hearing the woman's lawyer, Colin Amery, said the woman was "bearing up" .
If found guilty, she could be sentenced to a maximum of three months' jail or a fine of up to $2000.

The Dominion Post

April 17 2007

Bail for false-rape accused

by Kim Ruscoe

Police say they will not seek to reclaim the "huge" amount spent investigating a Papakura woman's allegedly false rape complaint.
The woman, who said she was raped at gunpoint by a man claiming to be a police officer, cried when she appeared in Papakura District Court yesterday, a day after being charged with making a false complaint. Thirty police spent three days investigating her claim.
Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said yesterday that police would not pursue the costs if the woman was convicted.
"It's not a realistic thing to ask for, it's such a huge figure no judge will award it anyway." Police have previously costed their time at $80 an hour, with medical expenses as much as $1500, putting the cost of the latest case at possibly $60,000.
The woman had told police an armed man posing as a plainclothes police officer had "tricked" his way into her Papakura flat on Thursday, saying he was conducting routine inquiries and calling her by name.
She claimed that once he was inside, she was stripped naked and repeatedly violated for almost three hours.
The woman, 41, wiped away a tear as she stood in the dock yesterday charged with making a false complaint.
She was granted interim name suppression because a relative had just been told she had a terminal illness and it would be a shock for her to learn of the charges.
She was given bail by justice of the peace Tony Charman, who ordered her to live at an address in Papakura, report twice a week to police and stay away from illicit drugs and alcohol.
The court was told that the woman had been seen by a forensic psychiatrist who had mentioned a dependency on alcohol and drugs in his letter to the court. She is to reappear in court on May 3.
Soon afterward, a man and woman believed to be the woman's relatives, stormed from the court and barged through waiting media.
The man ran down the shop-lined street, turned, ran back in front of a television camera, then jumped in a passing police car. The woman continued walking down the street and refused to comment.
Minutes later, the accused woman was rushed from the courtroom under police escort, hiding her face with a bail bond and carrying a plastic police-issue bag containing her possessions.
She refused to comment as she was walked around the corner to the police station.
After the hearing the woman's lawyer, Colin Amery, said the woman was "bearing up".
If found guilty, the woman could be sentenced to a maximum of three months in jail or a fine of up to $2000.
---------------
CAPTION:
On bail: The accused leaves Papakura District Court under police escort. She has been ordered to report to police twice a week.
Picture: JOHN SELKIRK

Rape Hoax Part 4 - 16th

2007-04-21T14:52:00.000+12:00

Woman, charged with false complaint

Radio New Zealand

April 16 2007; 21:00

Police count cost of alleged false rape complaint

The police in South Auckland are counting the cost of the hunt for an armed rapist sparked by what they now believe was a false complaint.
A 41-year-old woman appeared in the Papakura District Court yesterday charged with making a false statement to the police.
She claimed to have been sexually assaulted by a man posing as a police officer, sparking a three day investigation involving 30 officers.
The police say they have tallied up the cost of the inquiry but will not release details because the information is part of the court case.

Radio New Zealand

April 16 2007; 10:55

Papakura woman faces false complaint charge

A woman accused of falsely reporting a sexual assault by a man posing as a police officer has appeared in a South Auckland court.
The 41-year-old, who has been granted name suppression, is charged with knowingly giving a false statement to police, after she complained of being raped in her Papakura home.
The woman claimed that she had been subjected to a prolonged sexual attack, saying a man, posing as a plainclothes police officer, tricked his way in to her home on Thursday. Her allegation sparked a police manhunt and raised the fears of local residents.
In Papakura District Court on Monday, the woman was composed in the dock, but appeared to wipe away tears. She was granted bail on the condition she does not consume alcohol or illicit drugs.
Her lawyer Colin Amery says he has been pleased so far by the sympathetic response of police and women's groups. He says he hopes people will wait to hear the full facts of the situation before making any judgments.
Mr Amery says her privacy needs to be maintained despite the public interest in her case.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says it is a sad and tragic case. He says the truth was revealed through the work of criminal profilers and what the woman told police.

False complaints 'cry for help'

Rape Crisis says a small proportion of rape complaints are false, but they can make it difficult for those who have been attacked to come forward.
Spokesperson Kim McGregor says research shows between 2% and 6% complaints are false, and can often be a cry for help.

One News

April 16 2007

Woman breaks down in court

The South Auckland woman who allegedly lied about being raped broke down as she appeared in court.
The 41-year-old had told police she was viciously attacked and raped in her home last week. She alleged a Maori or Pacific Island man claiming to be an undercover policeman and carrying a gun tricked his way into her flat on Thursday afternoon and subjected her to a two-and-a-half hour ordeal.
A major police hunt was launched following her complaint. The investigation involved 30 police staff at a cost of $10,000.
Police allege the false rape report was a well planned and thought out criminal act, but will not reveal how they caught the woman out.
They interviewed the woman several times during the inquiry and took the investigation seriously because the woman had several wounds. But they now believe the injuries could have been self-inflicted.
The woman, who has interim name suppression, appeared in the Papakura District Court on Monday charged with making a false complaint.
The court heard of a drugs and alcohol problem highlighted in a report from a forensic psychiatrist.
She was supported by friends and family, but no explanation for her actions were given. She cried in court, and remained silent but shaking after she was bailed.
She will reappear in court in two weeks time and has been bailed on strict conditions, including a ban on alcohol and drugs
"If there's alcohol involved, or drugs, there may be a confusion between historic issues that have been unresolved and a current need for help," says Rape Prevention Education spokesperson Kim McGregor.
The woman has now been referred to health professionals.
If found guilty she could face a fine of up to $2,000 or three months prison.

False allegations "set back the fight"

Rape victim support groups say women who make false rape allegations make it very difficult for those who have been genuinely attacked.
"For false allegations to be made, it may have an effect that genuine rape survivors won't come forward," says Rape Prevention Education spokesperson Kim McGregor.
Rape Crisis spokeswoman Andrea Black says such false allegations set back the fight against rape and put a bad light on all people who speak out about being sexually violated, casting doubt on the validity of their statements.

Newstalk ZB

April 16 2007; 15:16

Hoax-rape accused gets name suppression

A South Auckland court has ordered the identity of a woman who falsely claimed she had been raped, be kept secret.
Interim name suppression has been granted to the 41-year-old. She has been charged with making a false complaint for telling police she had been raped and attacked in her Papakura home last Thursday.
Today she appeared in court, quiet and tearful as strict bail conditions were set out. Her lawyer requested name suppression be granted to allow the woman time to contact a terminally-ill relative and explain her arrest. A psychiatric report has also been ordered.
The Wellington Sexual Abuse Help Foundation says most false rape complaints are a sign of underlying problems. Manager Helen Sullivan says in her experience, a false complaint is usually a cry for help. She says there may be a history of abuse which something has triggered, or mental health issues.

Newstalk ZB

April 16 2007; 10:52

Bail for fake-rape complaint accused

The woman charged with laying a false rape complaint has appeared in the Papakura District Court.
The 41-year-old has been bailed to reappear in two weeks. She has also been granted interim name suppression following this morning's brief appearance. Strict bail conditions apply, including a ban on alcohol and drugs. She is also to undergo a psychiatric report.
Police began an investigation last week when the woman alleged she was raped in her Duke Street flat in Papakura, by a man posing as an undercover police officer and carrying a gun.

Stuff

April 16 2007

Police count cost of rape investigation

by Kim Ruscoe

The woman at the centre of an alleged hoax rape claim in south Auckland appeared in Papakura District Court today charged with making a false statement, and has been granted name suppression.
The woman was remanded on bail until May 3.
Conditions of her bail were that she live at a Papakura address and did not drink alcohol or take illicit drugs.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said police were adding up the cost of the inquiry which 30 police officers spent many hours on the investigation, and until they knew more details would not comment further.
The woman complained to police on Thursday she had been attacked and sexually violated by a man who said he was an undercover policeman and who had a handgun.
Police charged the woman yesterday, saying the attack did not happen and there was no rapist running around the Papakura area with a gun.
In court today, the woman looked at the floor during two brief appearances she made.
Her lawyer, Colin Amery, asked for her name to be suppressed because a family member had just learnt they had a terminal illness and had not been told of the charges against the woman.
"That could be a shock," Mr Amery told the court.
The court also heard that the regional forensic psychiatrist who had examined the woman had mentioned a dependency on drugs and alcohol.
That led to the condition in her bail that she did not drink or take illicit drugs.
Her harrowing allegations, which included claims that he was posing as a police officer, sparked fears in the Auckland suburb of Papakura and a police warning to the public to demand identification.
But inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said yesterday that the investigation had been called off.
"I can allay any fears the public may have of any gun-toting rapist running around because this attack simply did not happen.
"This is a sad, tragic case and the woman concerned has been referred to the appropriate health professionals ... she's got some issues, to say the least."
The woman claimed an armed man posing as a plainclothes police officer had "tricked" his way into her Papakura home about midday on Thursday, saying he was conducting routine inquiries.
Police said yesterday morning that the woman told them the rapist had used her name when he knocked on the door.
But by yesterday afternoon Mr Grimstone had called a press conference to reveal the woman had been charged with making a false complaint.
Over the past three days, police officers, including criminal profilers, had carried out a "very extensive and thorough" investigation, he said.
That work - and information supplied by the woman yesterday - led to the investigation being called off.
"I've had an open mind on this right from the start," Mr Grimstone said. "It's been a thorough investigation, we've covered all the bases, we've done everything as if it was genuine."
He would not say if the physical injuries said to have been inflicted during the attack had been caused by the woman herself, who had undergone a medical examination after the rape claim.
Nor would he say if recent court cases revealing the sexual behaviour of some serving and former police officers had influenced her actions.
Auckland Sexual Abuse Help Foundation spokeswoman Kathryn McPhillips said false rape complaints eroded police and public empathy for genuine victims. But often those making the false complaints had a history of sexual abuse. "There's usually some story behind it."
Psychotherapist Marlyn Robson, who works with both sex offenders and victims, said that no other person was found to have been involved and the woman had been referred to health professionals, which suggested this was a "very sad, rather than bad" case.
There were mental conditions in which people hurt themselves then blamed someone else, she said. "This is certainly a weird one. People are likely to be angry."
False rape claims, which were rare, denigrated the experience of genuine rape victims, Dr Robson said.
Police figures show more than 400 people a year are charged with making false statements. A handful are charged with the more serious offence of fabricating evidence.
- With NZPA

NZ Herald

April 16 2007; 11:15

Woman accused of false rape complaint gets name suppression

by David Eames

A South Auckland woman accused of a false rape complaint was granted name suppression at a brief appearance in court this morning.
The 41-year-old appeared subdued and tearful and entered no plea to a charge of making a false statement.
She was granted bail with conditions that include a requirement she use no alcohol or illegal drugs and she will return to court on May 3.
The court heard the regional forensic psychiatrist who had examined the woman had mentioned a dependency on drugs and alcohol, and the justices of the peace sitting at Papakura District Court said a Waitemata District Health Board letter indicated "there are matters that need to be dealt with".
Her lawyer, Colin Amery, asked for her name to be suppressed because a family member had just learnt they had a terminal illness and had not been told of the charges against the woman.
"That could be a shock," Mr Amery told the court.
Police did not oppose the request for name suppression and Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, who led the investigation, refused to comment on the matter outside court.
The woman ran a media gauntlet when she left the court and was escorted by police the 100m to Papakura police station. She made no comment.
Yesterday, fear and apprehension gave way to anger among Papakura residents after the woman's claim that she was raped by an armed intruder was revealed to be false.
Mr Grimstone yesterday said that after "a very extensive and thorough investigation", the three-day inquiry had been ended and the woman referred to "the appropriate health professionals".
"The public need not fear any gun-toting rapist," he said. "This attack simply did not happen."
Maximum penalties for the offence are three months in prison or a $2000 fine.
The woman claimed she was raped over 2 1/2 hours in her Duke St flat on Thursday afternoon by a Maori or Pacific Island man wearing a suit and claiming to be a police officer "conducting routine inquiries".
At its peak, the inquiry involved 30 police officers, who spent "quite significant" hours on the case, police spokesman Kev Loughlin said yesterday.
The extreme nature of the woman's claims had prompted police, from the outset, to investigate her and her allegations.
"I think the nature of the allegations that were being made necessitated a dual focus on the investigation," he said.
Mr Grimstone refused to speculate on why the woman made the false complaint, and would not comment on whether her claims had been triggered by recent negative publicity about police conduct.
"It's a sad and tragic case, and she has got some issues, to say the least."
News that the attack did not happen was no surprise to the woman's neighbour Roline van Wyk.
"I hate to be a doubting Thomas, but there was just something about her.
"I couldn't believe that something like this could happen."
Ms van Wyk said she had spoken to the woman a couple of times, and "she seemed pleasant enough".
But other neighbours spoken to by the Herald were angry because of the distress and inconvenience the woman's false complaint had caused.
"It makes me angry for the simple reason that those other people in those units [where the woman lived] must be absolutely livid," said Rose Lavell.
"Look what she has done to the community around here."
Another man, who did not want to be named, said the woman's actions were unacceptable.
"The police have been chasing around for somebody, and if it didn't happen, well, what a waste of time.
"I can't really see the point in it. What was she after?"
Another Papakura resident said the woman's actions could make it harder for genuine sex attack victims to speak up.
"What about all the ladies where it's genuine? That's shocking, it really is."
Rape Prevention Education director Kim McGregor said last night false rape complaints made it "very difficult" for those making genuine allegations.
The number of rapes was "hugely under-reported" - only about 10 per cent of victims laid official complaints.
False rape complaints were often "a call for help" and could indicate some type of past trauma, Dr McGregor said.
Victoria University criminologist Dr Jan Jordan said: "If it really is a false complaint, then it just helps to fuel the myth that most women who make complaints of rape to the police are lying. That's really unfortunate.
"It feeds into what's been called a culture of scepticism over rape allegations.
"Often the police will think it means that women are naturally devious and lying or vengeful, rather than perhaps looking at what the motivations are."
But some false complaints were made by women who had been sexually abused at an earlier time.
"Often they are trying to draw attention to the stress that they are feeling underneath, but they are doing it in a very indirect way ... that means no individual gets held responsible."
Little research had been done in New Zealand on what proportion of rape complaints were false.
But in Britain, government research put it at about 9 to 12 per cent - "although many detectives still think the figure is much higher than that".
Dr Jordan has previously told the Herald that police attitudes to rape stymie the investigation of many women's sexual assault complaints.
Elaborate hoaxes like the Papakura case were relatively rare but tended to receive extensive publicity and endured in police folklore, she said.
Waikato University senior psychology lecturer Dr Neville Robertson said such complaints were extremely rare.

Day by day

* Friday:
Police say a Papakura woman was "stripped naked and sexually violated" the previous day by an armed man wearing a suit who tricked his way into her flat. Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone describes the attack as "very disgusting and despicable".

* Saturday:
Police say the attacker approached the woman claiming to be a plain-clothes policeman. Mr Grimstone says the masquerade is "an extremely sinister development", and urges people to check the credentials of anyone claiming to be a police officer.

* Sunday:
Morning: Police say the attack was "a well planned and thought out criminal act", in which the offender asked for his victim by name.

Afternoon: Mr Grimstone reveals: "The public need not fear any gun-toting rapist. This attack simply did not happen."
- with NZPA

Three News

April 16 2007

Woman in court today charged with making false complaint

The South Auckland woman who claimed she was raped by a police impersonator is appearing in court this morning.
An inquiry began on Thursday after the 41-year-old alleged she was subjected to a prolonged, gun-point rape by a man posing as a police officer.
The head of the police inquiry, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, says the woman has been referred to health professionals.
She has been charged with making a false complaint, which carries a penalty of three months imprisonment or a fine of up to $2000.
Rape Crisis says the allegedly false complaint is rare, and the organisation is hoping it will not impact negatively on future genuine rape allegations.
Specialists who deal with rape cases say false allegations are a huge drain on their limited resources.
Doctor Kim McGregor says while only two to four percent of rape allegations are made up, it is enough to cast doubts over real ones

Radio NZ

April 16 2007

Woman to appear in court on false rape complaint

A woman is due to appear in court on Monday charged with making a false statement to the police, after reporting that she had been raped at gunpoint in her South Auckland home.
The woman, 41, claimed that she had been subjected to a prolonged sexual attack, saying a man, posing as a plain-clothes police officer, tricked his way in on Thursday.
The complaint sparked a huge police manhunt.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the woman will be charged with making a false statement to police and the investigation has been discontinued.
She will appear in Papakura District Court.
Mr Grimstone says it is a sad and tragic case. He says the truth was revealed through the work of criminal profilers and what the woman told police.

One News

April 16 2007

Woman charged with false complaint

A South Auckland woman who told police she was viciously attacked and raped in her home last week has appeared in the Papakura District Court charged with making a false complaint.
The 41-year-old woman alleged a Maori or Pacific Island man claiming to be an undercover policeman and carrying a gun tricked his way into her flat on Thursday afternoon and subjected her to a two-and-a-half hour ordeal.
A major police hunt was launched, with a team of 30 working on the case.
"This is a sad and tragic case and the woman concerned has been referred to the appropriate health professionals," Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said on Sunday.
Police allege the false rape report was a well planned and thought out criminal act but will not reveal how they caught the woman out.
The woman, who has interim name suppression, has been released on bail to reappear in court in two weeks time.
Strict bail conditions include a ban on alcohol and drugs.
Her lawyer requested name suppression be granted to allow the woman time to contact a terminally-ill relative and explain her arrest.
A psychiatric report has also been ordered.

False allegations "set back the fight"

Rape victim support groups say women who make false rape allegations make it very difficult for those who have been genuinely attacked to file a police complaint.
Rape Crisis spokeswoman Andrea Black says such false allegations set back the fight against rape and put a bad light on all people who speak out about being sexually violated, casting doubt on the validity of their statements.

One News

April 16 2007

False rape complaints slammed

Rape victim support groupssay women who make false rape allegations make it very difficult for those who have been genuinely attacked to file a police complaint.
A 41-year-old South Auckland woman who alleged she was raped in her Duke Street flat in Papakura by a man posing as an undercover police officer has told detectives she made up the incident.
She is appearing in court on Monday charged with making a false complaint to police and has been referred to health professionals.
Rape Crisis spokeswoman Andrea Black says such false allegations set back the fight against rape and put a bad light on all people who speak out about being sexually violated, casting doubt on the validity of their statements.
The woman claimed a Maori or Pacific Island man talked his way into her home on Thursday.
She said he was armed and subjected her to a two-and-a-half hour ordeal.
Thirty police officers spent hours on the case. On Sunday, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said the public did not have to fear a gun-toting rapist as the attack did not happen.

The Nelson Mail

April 16 2007

False rape claim angers

A woman who claimed she was raped in a three-hour ordeal by an armed man posing as a police officer was today granted bail and name suppression by the Papakura District Court.
The 41-year-old woman made a brief appearance in court charged with making a false complaint. She had been held in custody overnight after police yesterday called off their investigation into her claim that she had been raped .
Her harrowing allegations sparked fear in the Auckland suburb of Papakura, an inquiry involving 30 police officers over three days, and a warning to the public to demand identification from anyone claiming to be a police officer.
But inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said yesterday the investigation had been called off.
``I can allay any fears the public may have of any gun-toting rapist running around, because this attack simply did not happen,'' he said.
``This is a sad, tragic case and the woman concerned has been referred to the appropriate health professionals. She's got some issues, to say the least.''
charged with making a false complaint. The maximum penalty is three months in jail or a fine of up to $2000. Rape counsellors say false complaints erode police and public sympathy for genuine victims.
The woman claimed that an armed man posing as a plainclothes police officer ``tricked'' his way into her Papakura home about midday last Thursday, saying he was conducting routine inquiries.
Police said yesterday morning that the woman told them the rapist had used her name when he knocked on the door.
But by yesterday afternoon, Mr Grimstone had called a press conference to reveal that the woman had been charged with making a false complaint.
During three days, the police officers, including criminal profilers, had carried out a ``very extensive and thorough'' investigation, he said.
That work, and information supplied by the woman yesterday morning, led to the investigation being called off.
Nor would he say if recent court cases revealing the sexual behaviour of some serving and former police officers had influenced her actions.
The woman's neighbour, Roline van Wyk, said there ``was just something about her''.
``I couldn't believe that something like this could happen.''
Other neighbours were angry because of the distress and inconvenience the incident had created.
Auckland Sexual Abuse Help Foundation spokeswoman Kathryn McPhillips said false rape complaints eroded police and public empathy for genuine victims.
Often, those making false complaints had a history of sexual abuse, she said. ``There's usually some story behind it.''
Psychotherapist Marlyn Robson, who works with sex offenders and victims, said no other person was found to have been involved, and the woman had been referred to health professionals. She suggested that this was a ``very sad, rather than bad'' case.
There were mental conditions where people hurt themselves and then blamed it on someone else, she said.
Figures issued by police headquarters show that more than 400 people a year are charged with making false statements.
The maximum penalty is three months in jail or a fine of up to $2000.

Newstalk ZB

April 16 2007 05:24

Court appearance after rape claims

Rape Crisis says women who make false rape allegations make it very difficult for those who have been genuinely attacked to file a police complaint.
The 41-year-old South Auckland woman who alleged she was raped in her Duke Street flat in Papakura, by a man posing as an undercover police officer has told detectives she made up the incident. She has been charged with making a false complaint to police and has been referred to health professionals. She appears in court today.
Rape Crisis spokeswoman Andrea Black says such false allegations set back the fight against rape and put a bad light on all people who speak out about being sexually violated, casting doubt on the validity of their statements.
The woman claimed a Maori or Pacific Island man talked his way into her home on Thursday. She said he was armed and subjected her to a two-and-a-half hour ordeal. Thirty police officers spent hours on the case. Yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the public did not have to fear a gun-toting rapist as the attack did not happen.

NZ Herald

April 16 2007; 05:00

Outrage as police reveal brutal rape claim was a fake

by David Eames

Fear and apprehension have given way to anger among Papakura residents after a 41-year-old woman's claim that she was raped by an armed intruder was revealed to be false.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone yesterday said that after "a very extensive and thorough investigation", the three-day inquiry had been ended and the woman referred to "the appropriate health professionals".
"The public need not fear any gun-toting rapist," he said. "This attack simply did not happen."
The woman was in custody, and was to appear in Papakura District Court today charged with making a false statement.
Maximum penalties for the offence are three months in prison or a $2000 fine.
The woman claimed she was raped over 2 1/2 hours in her Duke St flat on Thursday afternoon by a Maori or Pacific Island man wearing a suit and claiming to be a police officer "conducting routine inquiries".
At its peak, the inquiry involved 30 police officers, who spent "quite significant" hours on the case, police spokesman Kev Loughlin said yesterday.
The extreme nature of the woman's claims had prompted police, from the outset, to investigate her and her allegations.
"I think the nature of the allegations that were being made necessitated a dual focus on the investigation," he said.
Mr Grimstone refused to speculate on why the woman made the false complaint, and would not comment on whether her claims had been triggered by recent negative publicity about police conduct.
"It's a sad and tragic case, and she has got some issues, to say the least."
News that the attack did not happen was no surprise to the woman's neighbour Roline van Wyk.
"I hate to be a doubting Thomas, but there was just something about her.
"I couldn't believe that something like this could happen."
Ms van Wyk said she had spoken to the woman a couple of times, and "she seemed pleasant enough".
But other neighbours spoken to by the Herald were angry because of the distress and inconvenience the woman's false complaint had caused.
"It makes me angry for the simple reason that those other people in those units [where the woman lived] must be absolutely livid," said Rose Lavell.
"Look what she has done to the community around here."
Another man, who did not want to be named, said the woman's actions were unacceptable.
"The police have been chasing around for somebody, and if it didn't happen, well, what a waste of time.
"I can't really see the point in it. What was she after?"
Another Papakura resident said the woman's actions could make it harder for genuine sex attack victims to speak up.
"What about all the ladies where it's genuine? That's shocking, it really is."
Rape Prevention Education director Kim McGregor said last night false rape complaints made it "very difficult" for those making genuine allegations.
The number of rapes was "hugely under-reported" - only about 10 per cent of victims laid official complaints.
False rape complaints were often "a call for help" and could indicate some type of past trauma, Dr McGregor said.
Victoria University criminologist Dr Jan Jordan said: "If it really is a false complaint, then it just helps to fuel the myth that most women who make complaints of rape to the police are lying. That's really unfortunate.
"It feeds into what's been called a culture of scepticism over rape allegations.
"Often the police will think it means that women are naturally devious and lying or vengeful, rather than perhaps looking at what the motivations are."
But some false complaints were made by women who had been sexually abused at an earlier time.
"Often they are trying to draw attention to the stress that they are feeling underneath, but they are doing it in a very indirect way ... that means no individual gets held responsible."
Little research had been done in New Zealand on what proportion of rape complaints were false.
But in Britain, government research put it at about 9 to 12 per cent - "although many detectives still think the figure is much higher than that".
Dr Jordan has previously told the Herald that police attitudes to rape stymie the investigation of many women's sexual assault complaints.
Elaborate hoaxes like the Papakura case were relatively rare but tended to receive extensive publicity and endured in police folklore, she said.
Waikato University senior psychology lecturer Dr Neville Robertson said such complaints were extremely rare.
Day by day
* Friday:
Police say a Papakura woman was "stripped naked and sexually violated" the previous day by an armed man wearing a suit who tricked his way into her flat. Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone describes the attack as "very disgusting and despicable".
* Saturday:
Police say the attacker approached the woman claiming to be a plain-clothes policeman. Mr Grimstone says the masquerade is "an extremely sinister development", and urges people to check the credentials of anyone claiming to be a police officer.
* Sunday:
Morning: Police say the attack was "a well planned and thought out criminal act", in which the offender asked for his victim by name.
Afternoon: Mr Grimstone reveals: "The public need not fear any gun-toting rapist. This attack simply did not happen."

The Dominion Post

April 16 2007; 05:00

'This attack did not happen

'Woman charged with false complaint
by Kim Ruscoe

A woman who claimed she was raped in a three-hour ordeal by a well-dressed armed intruder has been charged with making a false complaint.
Her harrowing allegations, which included claims that he was posing as a police officer, sparked fears in the Auckland suburb of Papakura and a police warning to the public to demand identification.
But inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said yesterday that the investigation - involving 30 detectives' time over three days - had been called off.
"I can allay any fears the public may have of any gun-toting rapist running around because this attack simply did not happen.
"This is a sad, tragic case and the woman concerned has been referred to the appropriate health professionals ... she's got some issues, to say the least."
The woman, 41, would appear in Papakura District Court today charged with making a false complaint.
The woman claimed an armed man posing as a plainclothes police officer had "tricked" his way into her Papakura home about midday on Thursday, saying he was conducting routine inquiries.
Police said yesterday morning that the woman told them the rapist had used her name when he knocked on the door.
But by yesterday afternoon Mr Grimstone had called a press conference to reveal the woman had been charged with making a false complaint.
Over the past three days, police officers, including criminal profilers, had carried out a "very extensive and thorough" investigation, he said.
That work - and information supplied by the woman yesterday - led to the investigation being called off.
"I've had an open mind on this right from the start," Mr Grimstone said. "It's been a thorough investigation, we've covered all the bases, we've done everything as if it was genuine."
He would not say if the physical injuries said to have been inflicted during the attack had been caused by the woman herself, who had undergone a medical examination after the rape claim.
Nor would he say if recent court cases revealing the sexual behaviour of some serving and former police officers had influenced her actions.
Auckland Sexual Abuse Help Foundation spokeswoman Kathryn McPhillips said false rape complaints eroded police and public empathy for genuine victims. But often those making the false complaints had a history of sexual abuse. "There's usually some story behind it."
Psychotherapist Marlyn Robson, who works with both sex offenders and victims, said that no other person was found to have been involved and the woman had been referred to health professionals, which suggested this was a "very sad, rather than bad" case.
There were mental conditions in which people hurt themselves then blamed someone else, she said. "This is certainly a weird one. People are likely to be angry."
False rape claims, which were rare, denigrated the experience of genuine rape victims, Dr Robson said.
Police figures show more than 400 people a year are charged with making false statements. A handful are charged with the more serious offence of fabricating evidence

Stuff

April 16 2007

Papakura rape 'did not happen'

by Kim Ruscoe

Rape Hoax Part 3 - 15th

2007-04-21T14:39:00.000+12:00

Detective Neil Grimstone

Three News

April 15 2007; 18:02

Police: Woman made up rape story

Police have announced that they believe that the woman at the centre of rape allegations in Papakura, made the entire incident up.
She had alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by a man posing as a police officer.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said it was a ''sad and tragic'' case and that the woman had been referred to appropriate health professionals.
Police have charged the 41-year-old woman with making a false complaint.

Radio NZ

April 15 2007; 17:50

Woman charged with making false rape complaint

Police in South Auckland say a woman who reported she had been raped by a man posing as a police officer made up the story.
The 41-year-old woman told police an armed man tricked his way into her Papakura home on Thursday and subjected her to a prolonged sexual attack.
The complaint sparked a huge police manhunt.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the woman will be charged with making a false statement to police and the investigation has been discontinued.
A 41-year-old woman will appear in Papakura District Court on Monday.
He says it is a sad case and the woman has been referred health professionals.
Mr Grimstone says the truth was revealed through the work of criminal profilers and what the woman told police.

One News

April 15 2007

South Auckland rape claim false

Source: One News/Newstalk ZB

Police have charged a 41-year-old South Auckland woman with making a false statement after she laid a complaint that a well-dressed man raped her at her Papakura home on Thursday.
Over the weekend police had revealed the man had posed as an undercover police man and called her by name when she answered the door to him. She said the man had brandished a gun and raped her over a two and a half hour period.
A neighbour who lived underneath the woman says the flats are so close you can hear your neighbour sneeze. She said she had her doubts from the beginning about the claimed attack.
"There were people about at the time that it was supposed to have happened, and even the lady next door to her hadn't heard any sound," Roline Van Wyk.
Thirty officers had been working on the case since the woman laid the complaint, but a parallel inquiry by police profilers was also underway investigating the truth behind the woman's claims.
On Saturday they felt they had enough evidence to charge her.
"This is a sad and tragic case and the woman concerned has been referred to the appropriate health professionals," says Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone.
The woman will appear in the Papakura District Court on Monday. She is also charged with wasting police time.
The charge of making a false statement carries a penalty of three months in prison or a fine of up to $2,000.

Stuff

April 15 2007;

Woman made up rape complaint - police

by Kim Ruscoe

Police in South Auckland have called off the hunt for an armed rapist, saying the attack never happened.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said a 41-year-old Papakura woman had been charged with making a false complaint to police and would appear in court tomorrow.
"I can allay any fears the public may have had of a gun-totting rapist running around because this attack simply did not happen," he said.
"This is a sad and tragic case and the woman concerned has been referred to the appropriate health professionals."
The 41-year-old woman had alleged a man posed as a plain clothes police officer on Thursday before bursting into her home with a handgun and subjecting her to sexual assaults for nearly three hours.

Newstalk ZB

April 15 2007; 15:08

Papakura rape 'made up'

Police have charged a 41-year-old Papakura woman with making a false statement. They say her complaint about an attack on Thursday was made up.
The woman had complained that a well-dressed man claiming to be a policeman making routine neighbourhood checks held her at gunpoint and raped her at her home. She will appear in the Papakura court tomorrow. She has also been referred to health professionals.
Police released the information at a media conference this afternoon, but refused to comment on the injuries the woman said she received when she was attacked.
Only hours ago police revealed the man had called her by name when she answered the door to him. She said he brandished a gun and raped her over a three-hour period

Newswire

April 15 2007; 15:06

Papakura Woman Made Up False Rape Complaint

The police in South Auckland say a woman who reported she had been raped by a man posing as a police officer made up the story.
The 41-year-old woman told police an armed man tricked his way in to her Papakura home on Thursday, and subjected her to a prolonged sexual attack.
The complaint sparked a major police manhunt.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the woman will be charged with making a false statement to the police, and the investigation is over.
He says its a tragic case and the woman has been referred health professionals.
Mr Grimstone says the truth was revealed through the work of criminal profilers and what the victim told police.
He says he can allay any fears the public may have of a gun-toting rapist because the attack did not happen.

NZ Herald

April 15 2007; 14:28

Woman 'made up' Papakura rape complaint

NZPA

In a twist of events into the investigation of an alleged rape of a South Auckland woman, police say they will now charge the woman with making a false statement to police.
At a media conference in Papakura today, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said it was a sad and tragic case.
The woman concerned had been referred to the appropriate health professionals.
Mr Grimstone said he wanted to allay any public fears there was a "gun-toting rapist running around".
He said the event simply did not happen.
The 41-year-old woman had alleged a man posed as a plain clothes police officer on Thursday before bursting into her home with a handgun and subjecting her to sexual assaults for nearly three hours.

NZ Herald

April 15 2007; 12:55

Rapist asked for victim by name

Newstalk ZB

More shocking details have been revealed in the hunt for a rapist who struck in South Auckland.
Officers investigating what they say is a despicable attack in Papakura have revealed the man who raped the 41-year-old woman asked for her by name when she opened the door.
He was posing as a police officer working on routine inquiries.
The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, said the man had asked the woman to open the door and once inside had produced a "dark handgun" and threatened her with it.
The man then stripped the woman naked and subjected her to a prolonged and "despicable" sexual attack.
Locals in the area believe the attack was meticulously planned, with suggestions that the rapist may have been keeping watch on the property, waiting for the best time to strike. Police are now warning people to ask police officers to produce identification before letting them into their homes.
Forensic psychologist Dr Ian Lambie of Auckland University says the criminal is clearly a desperate man.
He says he certainly appears to like taking risks, as it is a very public crime.
A team of 30 are working on the case and are now trying to find out exactly how he knew his victim's identity.
It has fuelled speculation he had been stalking the woman for some time prior to Thursday's attack.

One News

April 15 2007

Rapist knew woman's name

Source: One News/Newstalk ZB

Police investigating the rape of a 41-year-old woman in Papakura say the intruder asked for the victim by name when she opened the door.
On Saturday police revelaed the rapist tricked his way into the woman's home by posing as an undercover police officer. He then threatened her with a hand gun and sexually assaulted her over a three hour period.
Police view the fact the offender asked for the woman by name as a form of targeting and say they are exploring all avenues to establish how he knew her identity.
It is believed the offender said something to the effect of: "I am a Police Officer on routine inquiries, are you (name)".
Police say there has been a development in their investigation, but won't be drawn on the details until a media conference on Sunday afternoon.
Forensic psychologist Dr Ian Lambie is confident the police will catch the rapist.
Lambie believes the offender may already be known to police and is more than likely to have prior convictions. He says he probably has some form of sexual or non-sexual criminal history given how much thought and planning has gone into the attack.
Lambie says the criminal is clearly arrogant by committing such a crime during daylight hours and during school holidays and believes he may be enjoying all the media attention on his crime.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the public response to the horrific incident has been good. He says considerable information has come in to the 0800 hotline number, which is being manned around the clock.
Grimstone says police are evaluating the information but it will take time to go through it all.
The offender is described as a Maori or Polynesian man in his early to mid-30s.
Anyone with information relating to the rape can call the police hotline 0800 DUKE ST or 0800-385 378.

Newstalk ZB

April 15 2007; 12:00

Rapist asked for victim by name

More shocking details have been revealed in the hunt for a rapist who struck in South Auckland.
Officers investigating what they say is a despicable attack in Papakura have revealed the man who raped the 41-year-old woman asked for her by name when she opened the door.
He was posing as a police officer working on routine inquiries.
Forensic psychologist Dr Ian Lambie of Auckland University says the criminal is clearly a desperate man.
He says he certainly appears to like taking risks, as it is a very public crime.
A team of 30 are working on the case and are now trying to find out exactly how he knew his victim's identity.
It has fuelled speculation he had been stalking the woman for some time prior to Thursday's attack.

Newstalk ZB

April 15 2007; 10:56

Rapist possibly known to police

As police continue to sift through information phoned in by the public after a vicious rape in South Auckland, a forensic psychologist believes the attacker is clearly a desperate man.
The 41-year-old woman was tricked into opening her door when she was shown a police badge.
An 0800 hotline is being manned around the clock as the hunt for the rapist continues.
Psychologist Dr Ian Lambie of Auckland University believes the man may be enjoying all the media attention to his crime.
He says the criminal certainly likes to take risks as it was a pretty public crime, committed during the daytime and during the school holidays.
Dr Lambie says he has every confidence the police will catch him.
He says the man may already be known to police.
Dr Lambie says it is more than likely the offender has prior convictions.
He says he certainly has some form of sexual or non-sexual criminal history given how much thought and planning has gone into the attack.

Radio NZ

April 15 2007; 09:18

Police hotline gets leads on Papakura rape

Police in South Auckland say they have received some significant information from the public through a hotline set up after a man raped a woman in her home in Papakura.
The armed man, who was wearing a suit and was posing as a plain-clothed police officer, subjected the 41-year-old to a prolonged sexual attack.
Police say all of the calls to the hotline are being investigated. They are not releasing any further details.
They are warning women not to open the door to anyone claiming to be a police officer unless the individual shows identification.

Newstalk ZB

April 15 2007; 09:00

Rape case- no arrest yet

South Auckland police are still confident they will catch the man behind a vicious and prolonged sexual attack on a 41-year-old woman in Papakura on Thursday afternoon.There has been no arrest overnight in the hunt for the rapist, who posed as an undercover officer and tricked his way into her home. He then threatened her with a hand gun and sexually assaulted her over a three-hour period.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the public response to the horrific incident has been good. He says the 0800 hotline number has had plenty of calls and is being manned around the clock. He believes considerable information has come in. DSS Grimstone says police are evaluating the information but it will take time to go through it all.
There are fears the rapist may strike again.

Sunday Star Times

April 15 2007

Rapist posed as cop

by Esther Harward

Criminal profiler says the Papakura armed rapist's daylight attack during the school holidays was bold and well planned. He is likely to be superficially charming and to have offended before.
A sophisticated and "egocentric" rapist posing as a plain-clothes policeman is likely to have a history of sexual offending and to rape again, experts warn.
Police are scouring databases listing sex offenders released in the past six months after the attack on a 41-year-old woman in Papakura, south Auckland, at lunchtime on Thursday.
She allowed the man in after he said he was a plain-clothes policeman "conducting routine inquiries".
Brandishing a handgun, he then raped her over a 212-hour period and threatened to kill her if she went to police.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone described the attack as "disgusting and despicable" and wanted women to double-check police officers' credentials before opening their doors.
Thursday's attack bears an uncanny resemblance to one last year in Pukekohe, because both victims had recently shifted into their homes.
It also comes just days after Nelson police warned women to be careful of a man posing as a police officer who pulled a woman over while she was driving on a rural road near Richmond at 10.30pm.
Criminal profiler Ian Lambie told the Sunday Star-Times the Papakura attacker would probably rape again and was likely to have previous convictions.
"It's like you can't open your door to anybody, so that increases the fear in the entire community," said Auckland Rape Prevention Education director Dr Kim McGregor.
"It's often more shocking to the public because they're using the front of being a police person and police are supposed to protect us, and the reverse of that becomes magnified."
Lambie, from Auckland University, said the rapist was obviously someone who had planned the attack well, "who has some level of sophistication, someone who obviously has got some form of sexual perversion. A guy with no empathy, who's egocentric, very controlling and aggressive".
He was likely to be superficially charming and calm, and someone who could hide any anxiety.
Lambie said it was likely the man would attack again, but probably not in the guise of a police officer because of the publicity around this attack.
He said it was likely the rapist had been watching the woman's home and could be someone who lived locally. He may have been aware she had just moved in.
Grimstone said the woman was deeply traumatised and had suffered minor injuries. He described her as a "well educated, articulate, 41 year old Causasion and said the attack was a "fairly substantial mystery". Grimstone said anyone presenting themselves as a police officer should be asked to show one of two methods of identification - all officers carry an ID card and detectives carry a gold badge. Presenting himself as a policeman gave the crime an "extremely sinister twist".
The Star-Times understands police have been searching databases for recently released prisoners convicted of sex crimes in the North Island.
Grimstone said the prospect that the man was a serial rapist was pure speculation, as were suggestions he was a former police officer.
It would take days before police had any solid leads. "This is not something that's going to be resolved in a heartbeat."
The woman was yesterday being interviewed by police.
Neighbours said the woman kept to herself and had moved into the Duke St flat about a week ago.
The well-educated Caucasian woman was between jobs.
McGregor said women should be on their guard when home alone, even though this could be difficult.
"Women have to be constantly alert and on their guard and checking even people they know, but particularly people they don't know who are wanting to come into their homes."
She said she had not heard of any previous incident in New Zealand of a rapist disguising themselves as a police officer, although she had heard of rapists posing as tradesmen to gain entry to women's homes.
Grimstone hoped the attack was not motivated by the Brad Shipton/Bob Schollum rape cases.
"I've very much got an open mind and I'll explore all avenues to get to the bottom of it. We will be looking at all information that comes up."
McGregor doubted it would increase antagonism towards police because people would understand the attacker was not a real police officer.
OPERATION BOWIE Suspect description:
Male Maori or Polynesian
Aged early to mid 30s
About 1.85m (6ft 1in) tall
Athletic, strong build
Clean-shaven
Short dark hair
Wearing: dark grey or black suit, white collared shirt, grey or blue tie, black dress shoes.
Call: Papakura CIB on 0800 DUKE ST (0800 385 378).

Sunday News

April 15 2007

Rape victim's neighbour tells of her fears

by Mere Mulu

An elderly neighbour of the woman raped in her home by a pistol-wielding bogus policeman has told how she may have beaten a similar fate.
On Thursday, a man described as an athletically built Maori or Polynesian dressed in a suit, convinced a 41-year-old woman to let him into her home in Papakura, south Auckland, after telling her he was a police officer "conducting routine inquiries".
Once inside, however, he produced a "dark handgun" and subjected her to brutal two-and-a-half hour sex assault.
The victim was left shattered by the sickening midday attack.
A neighbour, in her 80s, told Sunday News just days earlier she noticed a man - also dressed in a suit jacket and trousers - walking up and down the street.
"The chap walked along the road and came to my home," said the woman, who Sunday News has not named for safety reasons.
"He knocked on the door and asked if I would like him to help with some house renovations. I said no, I had relatives who could do it."
The woman said he looked like an "ordinary tradesman".
"He had light brown skin and was quite tall. I thought he was a little suspicious because he'd been walking up and down the road and I hadn't noticed a car," she said.
"When the police came around to ask questions about the attack, I was shocked because the person they described was very similar to the chap who came to my door."
The elderly woman said the daytime rape had shocked residents in the suburban area.
"I hope they catch him. It's a dreadful thing to happen to anyone," she said.
Police inquiry head, Counties Manukau detective senior sergeant, Neil Grimstone, warned the public to ask police officers to produce official identification before allowing them into their homes.
"Officers carry official identification and they are practised in showing that ID prior to any investigation or interviews," Grimstone said.
"Obviously the warning that needs to be conveyed is that people ask for ID and ensure they're happy with police credentials."
Police have appealed to the public to come forward with information about the assault and set up a helpline for people to phone in with information.
Grimstone said the 41-year-old victim received minor physical injuries in the attack.
"But to say she was mentally fragile would be an understatement.
"The man was armed and he threatened the woman's life, saying that he would kill her if she went to the police."
The attacker was described as in his early to mid 30s, about 185cm tall, clean shaven with short dark hair and of a strong, athletic build.
People with any information on the attacker should phone the police line 0800 385 378.

NZ Herald

April 15 2007; 05:00

Rape repeat feared

by Catherine Woulfe

The handgun-toting rapist who conned his way into the home of an Auckland woman by posing as a police officer could have psychopathic tendencies - and may well strike again soon.
That's the fear of a top criminal profiler following the release yesterday of disturbing details into the 2 1/2-hour attack on a 41-year-old woman in her Papakura flat.
In a sinister new twist, police yesterday revealed how the offender managed to get into the woman's Duke St flat by claiming to be a plain-clothes police officer carrying out routine checks of the neighbourhood.
The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, said the man had asked the woman to open the door and once inside had produced a "dark handgun" and threatened her with it.
The man then stripped the woman naked and subjected her to a prolonged and "despicable" sexual attack.
Locals in the area believe the attack was meticulously planned, with suggestions that the rapist may have been keeping watch on the property, waiting for the best time to strike. Police are now warning people to ask police officers to produce identification before letting them into their homes.
Grimstone said the obvious warning to the public was that all police officers, when going door to door, carried official identification. "They are practised at showing that identification at all times."
Last night, police were still searching for clues to the identity and whereabouts of the man amid fears he could strike again.
Grimstone said the victim had been re-interviewed by police yesterday and was still obviously traumatised by the ordeal. "She has some physical injuries which have been treated. But clearly, after such a horrific attack, to say she was mentally fragile was an understatement."
An 0800 hotline was being staffed around the clock, and while police had received "many calls", the attack was "a fairly substantial mystery".
The attacker is described as Maori or Polynesian, in his mid-30s, about 1.86m (6ft 1in) and of strong, athletic build. He was clean-shaven, had short, dark hair and was wearing a dark grey or black suit, a white collared shirt, a grey or blue tie and black dress shoes.
Dr Ian Lambie, an Auckland University criminal profiling expert, believed the viciousness of the attack and the way the rapist conned his way into the house by posing as a police officer suggested he was psychopathic. That meant he had the potential to be charming, manipulative and devious, and felt little remorse for his victims.
"He's obviously into power and control," Lambie told the Herald on Sunday.
"Someone who is willing to con, manipulate, be devious in order to get their needs met and doesn't care about the rights of other people. No empathy. It's all me, me, me."
Lambie said because of the man's age, there was also a good chance the man had a history of sexual offending and could attack again soon.
He had taken the "extreme risk" of attacking in daytime and during the school holidays, when more people were at home, which suggested "someone who's pretty driven by their deviant sexual interests... someone who will take extreme risks in order to get their rewards".
"It's more than likely that he'll try again," Lambie said. Also, the fact that he struck the victim home alone indicated that he may have been watching her house.
This, with the police persona, pointed to a coldly calculated crime.
Grimstone warned others in the area to lock up and be extra vigilant in answering their doors.
"It's a very disgusting and despicable attack on a female in her own home in broad daylight, and this man must be caught."
Police did not want to speculate on Lambie's claims.
Little is known of the victim, who only moved into the area a fortnight ago. But her ordeal has clearly left locals on edge, with many saying they no longer felt safe.
The victim's immediate neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he had been working at the time of the attack but remembered seeing a man approach the woman's door last Saturday and knock aggressively. She did not answer, and the man walked off, cursing and muttering, he said.
Another man who lived in the complex, who wished to be known only as Brian, said he had seen two different men visit the woman in the short time she had lived there. One had driven a black car, which he had parked across the street; the other had a "noisy little Mazda".
He could not describe either of the men but said they had each visited separately on a number of occasions and had not looked "suity".
Brian said the intruder could have approached the woman's door from the back of the brick complex, rather than through the front. There was no security system - "Anybody could get in," he said.
"I've got an idea he might have been watching the place, just quietly. It seemed to happen when there was no men around."
Eight people live in the brick flats.
Yesterday, the police cordon remained across the driveway and across two neighbouring properties.

Radio NZ

April 15 2007; 01:54

Steady stream of calls to hotline set up after rape in Papakura

The police in south Auckland have received a steady stream of calls from the public to a hotline which was set up after a man raped a woman in her home in Papakura.
The armed man, who was wearing a suit, subjected the 41 year old to a prolonged sexual attack on Thursday after tricking her into opening the door.
The police say all of the calls have been logged and are being investigated and they have received some significant information.
It was revealed yesterday that the man was posing as a plainclothed police officer when he gained entry to the woman's house.
The police are warning women not to open the door to anyone claiming to be a police officer unless they show their identification.

Rape Hoax Part 2 - 14th

2007-04-21T14:29:00.000+12:00

Detective Neil Grimstone

Three News

April 14 2007

Sex attacker pretended to be policeman

Detectives investigating a prolonged sexual attack on a woman in her own home, have revealed the man was posing as a police officer.
The smartly dressed man tricked his way into the 41-year-old woman's flat at around midday on Thursday, stripped her and sexually violated her for around two hours.
Police say any legitimate police officer will show his ID on demand.
If you have any information that may be helpful to police please call the hotline - 0800 385 378.

One News

April 14 2007

Rapist posed as policeman

Source: Newstalk ZB/One News

Police have revealed the rapist who attacked a Papakura woman in her flat on Thursday posed as a plain clothes detective to gain access to her home.
The man said he was making door to door inquiries when he forced his way in and viciously raped the woman, who lived alone.
The offender was armed with a hand gun and threatened the victim numerous times that he would kill her if she called police.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says it was a disgusting and despicable incident.
"The warning there is ask for that identification prior to opening the door and ensure you are happy with the police officers credentials," he says.
Grimstone says there are two forms of genuine police identification - a detective's badge, and an identification card carried by all officers.
The attack occurred around midday at the Duke Street address. The entrance to the woman's flat is clearly visible from the road.
A neighbour living two doors down from the victim came home at the time the two and a half hour attack was taking place but noticed nothing suspicious.
The offender is described as a Maori or Polynesian man in his early to mid-30s.
Police are encouraging anyone with information to call their toll-free hotline 0800 DUKE ST or 0800-385 378.

Radio NZ

April 14 2007; 17:14

Police warning women not to open door to police officers without ID

The south Auckland police are warning women not to open the door to anyone claiming to be a police officer, unless they show their credentials, after the rape of a woman.
They've revealed that a man who attacked a woman in her Papakura on Thursday was posing as a plain clothes officer.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the man was armed with a gun, and threatened her during the sexual attack.
He says the attacker claimed to be conducting routine police inquiries.
Neil Grimstone says the police communications centre can also confirm a police officer's identity to anyone who is unsure.

Stuff

April 14 2007

Rapist posed as plain-clothes cop

by NZPA and Kim Ruscoe - Fairfax Media

Police are warning people to ask officers for official identification before allowing them into their homes, after the vicious rape of a South Auckland woman on Thursday.
The man claimed he was a police officer and convinced the 41-year-old woman to let him into her Papakura Street home about midday on Thursday, where he stripped her and repeatedly sexually violated her.
Officer in charge of the investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone today revealed the man, dressed in a suit, posed as a police officer telling the woman he was there "conducting routine enquiries".
He asked the woman to open the door and once inside he produced a "dark handgun" and threatened the woman with it, he said.
Mr Grimstone said the man used the handgun to continuously threaten her throughout the 2-½ hour sexual attack.
"Clearly this is an extremely sinister twist in this enquiry."
The man did not show the woman any identification, he said.
Mr Grimstone said the obvious warning to the public was that all police officers, when going door-to-door, carried official identification.
"They are practised at showing that identification at all times."
Mr Grimstone said people should ask for that identification prior to opening the door and to be sure they were happy with the police officer's credentials.
A phoneline number (0800 385 378) which had been set-up had taken many calls, he said, and was being manned around the clock.
While considerable information had been received police were evaluating it, which took time, he said.
Mr Grimstone said he had never heard of a similar crime and said it was a "substantial mystery".
Mr Grimstone said all police had official identification and detectives often had a gold badge as well.
People who were not comfortable with either the person or identification shown, should not open the door, he said.
"You can ring the communications centre and they will have a log of that police officer going about those particular enquiries and they should be able to confirm whether that police officer was legitimate or not."
Mr Grimstone said he would not speculate whether the man may have a connection to the police or whether he had been watching the house.
The woman was interviewed by the police again today and was continuing to help police, he said.
The offender was described as being dressed in business clothes - a dark suit, white collared shirt, a grey or blue tie and black dress shoes.
He was described as a male Maori or Polynesian in his early to mid 30s, about 185cm tall, clean shaven with short dark hair and of a strong, athletic build.
Uniformed officers were today going door-to-door in a bid to gain more information about the offender.
Neighbour Andrew Robertson, who has a clear view of the woman's door, said he wished he had seen the attacker but he had closed his curtains because of the foul weather.
"I feel terrible," he said. "It is the most terrible thing I have heard of."
Ninety-year-old Evelyn Watson said she was out when the attack happened and knew nothing of it till police called in the morning.
Ms Watson said she was shocked that the attack could have happened with so many people close by.
"I don't feel safe now, I live on my own."
Another couple said they were "astonished".
Speaking from behind a locked screened door, the woman said she was not concerned for her safety.
"If I was on my own it would be different," she said.
"A lot of people live on their own around here."

Newstalk ZB

April 14 2007; 15:20

Rapist posed as policeman

It has been revealed the man who raped a woman in her own home this week was posing as an undercover policeman. Detectives have just released further details of the attack on the 41-year-old in Duke Street, Papakura.
They say the man gained his victim's confidence by claiming he was carrying out routine checks of the neighbourhood. He did not produce any ID, but the woman unlocked her door because he seemed very approachable. He then burst in, brandishing a gun, which he threatened her with throughout the three-hour ordeal.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says "it is a very disgusting and despicable attack on a female in her own home, in broad daylight and this man must be caught."
Mr Grimstone says women in the area need to be cautious when answering the door to strangers.
The man is described as Maori or Polynesian, aged early to mid-30s and approximately 6.1m tall. He is clean shaven with short dark hair and wearing a dark grey or black suit with a white collared shirt, a grey or blue tie and black dress shoes.
The victim of the vicious rape is helping police with their inquires. Mr Grimstone says despite her condition, she is helping them with the investigation. She is also receiving support from police professional services.
Anyone who has information or who was in the area at midday on Thursday is asked to call 0800 DUKE ST (0800 3853 78).

The Dominion Post

April 14 2007

Lunchtime rape stuns woman's neighbours

by Kim Ruscoe

Police are hunting a suit-wearing rapist after a woman was brutally attacked in her home in a smart Auckland suburb in broad daylight.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said the woman, 41, was subjected to a prolonged and "despicable" sexual attack after being tricked into opening the front door of her Papakura home for a well dressed stranger.
"She was stripped naked and sexually violated many times," he said.
"The man was armed and he threatened the woman's life, saying he would kill her if she went to the police."
It was not yet known what kind of weapon was used in the attack, which happened about midday on Thursday, Mr Grimstone said.
"She has some physical injuries which have been treated. But clearly after such a horrific attack, to say she was mentally fragile was an understatement."
Mr Grimstone warned others in the area to lock up and be extra vigilant in answering their doors.
"It's a very disgusting and despicable attack on a female in her own home, in broad daylight, and this man must be caught."
Mr Grimstone said the attacker was unusual, in that he was well-dressed. "He could be a businessman."
The attacker is described as Maori or Polynesian, in his mid 30s, about 1.86m (6ft 1) and of strong, athletic build. He was clean shaven, had short, dark hair and was wearing a dark grey or black suit, a white collared shirt, a grey or blue tie and black dress shoes.
Neighbour Andrew Robertson, who has a clear view of the woman's door, said he wished he had seen the attacker but he had closed his curtains because of the foul weather.
"I feel terrible," he said. "It is the most terrible thing I have heard of."
Ninety-year-old Evelyn Watson said she was out when the attack happened and knew nothing of it till police called in the morning.
Normally not afraid to get up in the middle of the night to investigate strange noises, Ms Watson said she was shocked that the attack could have happened with so many people close by.
"I don't feel safe now, I live on my own."
Another couple said they were "astonished".
Speaking from behind a locked screened door, the woman said she was not concerned for her safety.
"If I was on my own it would be different," she said.
"A lot of people live on their own around here."

NZ Herald

April 14 2007; 14:30

Police warn people to ask for ID after rape

NZPA

Police are warning people to ask police officers to produce official identification before allowing them into their homes, after the vicious rape of a South Auckland woman in her home on Thursday.
The man claimed he was a police officer and convinced the 41-year-old woman to let him into her home about midday on Thursday, in a Papakura street, where he stripped her and repeatedly sexually violated her.
Officer in charge of the investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone today revealed the man, dressed in a suit, posed as a police officer telling the woman he was there "conducting routine enquiries".
He asked the woman to open the door and once inside he produced a "dark handgun" and threatened the woman with it, he said.
Mr Grimstone said the man used the handgun to continuously threaten her throughout the 2-1/2 hour sexual attack.
"Clearly this is an extremely sinister twist in this enquiry."
The man did not show the woman any identification, he said.
Mr Grimstone said the obvious warning to the public was that all police officers, when going door-to-door, carried official identification.
"They are practised at showing that identification at all times."
Mr Grimstone said people should ask for that identification prior to opening the door and to be sure they were happy with the police officer's credentials.
A helpline number which had been set-up had taken many calls, he said, and was being manned around the clock.
While considerable information had been received police were evaluating it, which took time, he said.
Mr Grimstone said he had never heard of a similar crime and said it was a "substantial mystery".
Mr Grimstone said all police had official identification and detectives often had a gold badge as well.
People who were not comfortable with either the person or identification shown, should not open the door, he said.
"You can ring the communications centre and they will have a log of that police officer going about those particular enquiries and they should be able to confirm whether that police officer was legitimate or not."
Mr Grimstone said he would not speculate whether the man may have a connection to the police or whether he had been watching the house.
The woman was interviewed by the police again today and was continuing to help police, he said.
The offender was described as being dressed in business clothes -- a dark suit, white collared shirt, a grey or blue tie and black dress shoes.
He was described as a male Maori or Polynesian in his early to mid 30s, about 185cm tall, clean shaven with short dark hair and of a strong, athletic build.
Uniformed officers were today going door-to-door in a bid to gain more information about the offender.
People with any information can call 0800 385 378.

Radio NZ

April 14 2007; 12:41

Rapist posed as undercover police officer

The suit-wearing man who raped a woman in her home in Papakura on Thursday was posing as an undercover police officer.
The armed man subjected the woman to a prolonged sexual attack after tricking her into letting him in to her flat.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the man told the woman he was conducting routine inquiries.
He says once the offender was inside he produced a gun and used it to threaten the woman throughout the attack.
Mr Grimstone describes the development as extremely sinister.
He says all plain clothes police officers carry identification and people should ask to see it.

Waikato Times

April 14 2007

Women warned about suit-wearing rapist

by Kim Ruscoe

April 14 2007

Well-dressed attacker tricked his way in

by Kim Ruscoe

Police are hunting a suit-wearing rapist after a woman was brutally attacked in her home in a smart Auckland suburb in broad daylight.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said the woman, 41, was subjected to a prolonged and "despicable" sexual attack after being tricked into opening the front door of her Papakura home for a well dressed stranger.
"She was stripped naked and sexually violated many times," he said.
"The man was armed and he threatened the woman's life, saying he would kill her if she went to the police."
It was not yet known what kind of weapon was used in the attack, which happened about midday on Thursday, Mr Grimstone said.
"She has some physical injuries which have been treated. But clearly after such a horrific attack, to say she was mentally fragile was an understatement."
Mr Grimstone warned others in the area to lock up and be extra vigilant in answering their doors.
"It's a very disgusting and despicable attack on a female in her own home, in broad daylight, and this man must be caught."
Mr Grimstone said the attacker was unusual, in that he was well- dressed. "He could be a businessman."
The attacker is described as Maori or Polynesian, in his mid 30s, about 1.86m (6ft 1) and of strong, athletic build. He was clean shaven, had short, dark hair and was wearing a dark grey or black suit, a white collared shirt, a grey or blue tie and black dress shoes.
Neighbour Andrew Robertson, who has a clear view of the woman's door, said he wished he had seen the attacker but he had closed his curtains because of the foul weather.
"I feel terrible," he said. "It is the most terrible thing I have heard of."
Ninety-year-old Evelyn Watson said she was out when the attack happened and knew nothing of it till police called in the morning.
Normally not afraid to get up in the middle of the night to investigate strange noises, Ms Watson said she was shocked that the attack could have happened with so many people close by.
"I don't feel safe now, I live on my own."
Another couple said they were "astonished".
Speaking from behind a locked screened door, the woman said she was not concerned for her safety.
"If I was on my own it would be different," she said.
"A lot of people live on their own around here."

Newstalk ZB

April 14 2007; 08:08

Police need help to find well-dressed rapist

Police are appealing for help from the public, after the cunning and vicious rape of woman in South Auckland.
The incident took place in Duke Street, Papakura, when the woman was tricked into opening her door to a clean-shaven man dressed in a suit. He then subjected the 41-year-old to an attack lasting up to three hours.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says it was a disgusting and despicable incident.
The offender is described as a Maori or Polynesian man in his early to mid-30s.
A toll-free hotline for information has been set up on 0800 DUKE ST.....0800-385 378.

Rape Hoax Part 1 - 13th

2007-04-21T14:23:00.000+12:00

Location of alleged rape

Radio NZ

April 13 2007; 21:12

Police issue warning about suit wearing rapist

The police in south Auckland are appealing for information from the public after a woman was subjected to a violent and prolonged sexual attack in her own home.
They say a man wearing a suit, tricked the 41 year old woman into letting him into her Papakura home on Thursday afternoon.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the rape was despicable, but also very unusual.
And he is warning residents in south Auckland to be cautious when dealing with strangers coming to their home.
Neil Grimstone says the police are still dealing with the victim who is distraught.

Three News

April 13 2007; 16:04

South Auckland police hunt well-dressed rapist

man dressed in a suit and tie tricked his way into a woman's South Auckland home before raping and sexually violating her for about two and a half hours yesterday.
As police hunt the offender, they warn other women in the area to be careful.

One News

April 13 2007

Women warned after Papakura attack

Women in South Auckland are being warned to beware when answering the door to strangers after a Papakura woman was subjected to a prolonged sex attack in her own home.
A line of police tape was the only sign of a major police investigation as forensics experts turned over the victim's flat on Friday.
Neighbours say they heard nothing during the attack around midday on Thursday and didn't see the offender who was dressed in a suit and tie when he knocked on the woman's door.
The inquiry head, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, says for all intents and purposes the offender, dressed in a suit and tie, could be a businessman. He says the attack is not something you would attribute to someone so well dressed.
The 41-year-old woman lived alone. Police say her attacker was armed and threatened to kill her if she called police.
The intruder tricked his way into the woman's flat where police say he stripped her naked and repeatedly sexually violated her in an attack that lasted at least two hours.
Police are appealing for sightings of the well-dressed clean-shaven Polynesian offender in his early to mid 30s.
And because of the apparent random nature of the attack, police are warning local women to take care when opening the door to strangers
"It's a very disgusting and despicable attack on a female on her own home in broad daylight and this offender must be caught," says Grimstone.
A team of 30 officers is now working on the inquiry. They will spend the weekend interviewing the victim.
She is said to be in a very fragile state of mind after her ordeal.

Radio NZ

April 13 2007; 17:36

"Prolonged sexual attack"

The police in south Auckland are describing a prolonged sexual attack on a woman in her own home as despicable and highly unusual.
The 41 year old woman was attacked in her Papakura flat yesterday afternoon by a man dressed in a dark grey or black suit.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the clean-shaven man knocked on the victim's door, and tricked her into allowing him inside.
Mr Grimstone told Checkpoint the offender who made no effort to conceal his identity, raped the woman and then threatened to kill her.
Neil Grimstone says the woman has been relocated and is being well protected by the police.

Radio NZ

April 13 2007; 15:43

Suit wearing rapist sujects woman to prolonged attack

The police in south Auckland are looking for a suit wearing rapist.
Investigators say he subjected a woman to a prolonged attack during broad daylight in her own home at about midday yesterday.
The 41 year old woman suffered minor physical injuries but is still distraught.
The attacker is described as in his mid-thirties, athletic, clean shaven and well dressed in a dark grey or black suit.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the man knocked on the victim's door, and tricked her into allowing him inside.
He says the man was armed and told the woman he would kill her if she went to the police.

Newstalk ZB

April 13 2007; 17:05

Police warn women after vicious rape

Police are warning women in south Auckland not to open their doors to strange men.
It follows a vicious rape in Papakura where a 41-year-old woman who lives alone was tricked into letting a clean cut, suit-wearing man into her Duke St house at midday yesterday. He then repeatedly raped her.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the man was armed and threatened to kill his victim if she went to the police.
"It is a very disgusting and despicable attack on a female in her own home, in broad daylight and this man must be caught."
Mr Grimstone says women in the area need to be cautious when answering the door to strangers.
The man is described as Maori or Polynesian, aged early to mid-30s and approximately 6.1m tall. He is clean shaven with short dark hair and wearing a dark grey or black suit with a white collared shirt, a grey or blue tie and black dress shoes.
Anyone who was in the area at midday yesterday is asked to call 0800 DUKE ST (0800 3853 78).

Newstalk ZB

April 13 2007; 15:17

"Despicable" rapist must be caught - police

South Auckland police have described the violent rape of a Papakura woman as disgusting and despicable.
The 41-year-old woman was repeatedly violated by a man who tricked his way into her Wood St home at midday yesterday and attacked her for up to three hours. He was clean shaven and wearing a suit.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone says the man was armed and told his victim he would kill her if she went to the police. He says all women in the area need to be vigilant when answering the door to strangers.
Mr Grimstone says the attacker is despicable and must be caught

Newstalk ZB

April 13 2007; 11:48

Woman raped in Papakura home

South Auckland detectives investigating a vicious rape are to reveal more information about the case.
Police say a 41-year-old woman was attacked in her Papakura home around midday yesterday.
A media briefing will be held at 2pm to outline more details.

Police investigations inadequate?

2007-04-21T08:46:00.000+12:00

NZ Herald
April 21 2007

Bold leap forward in policing the police

London police have become much kinder to women who complain of sex crimes but they still seldom get their man. According to the Metropolitan Police's own latest research, they often fail to even investigate him.
Many of the men reported to police for rape were not investigated and the allegations were not recorded despite the men having histories of violence, the research found.
If the complainant had been drinking or was under 18, it was rare for the complaint to be investigated or the accused interviewed, or for the allegation to appear on the police's books.
Discouraging as that seems, the Metropolitan Police are, however, doing such research and allowing the findings to become public.
Inadequate investigation of complaints of sex crimes is "a problem all around the world", says Professor Betsy Stanko.
So is a reluctance on the part of police services to turn the spotlight on themselves.
The Met and Stanko are exceptions. The former criminology professor was recruited in 2003 when the London police service decided that in-depth research done by specialists was vital to improving performance.
She heads a group of nine non-sworn researchers the Met's strategic research unit. Though the department is small, it represents a bold and important leap, Stanko says.
"It's very unusual to have expertise from the outside inside ... it's a continuous negotiation around the nervousness about transparency."
Though research is part of some police roles here, New Zealand police has nothing like Stanko's unit, which has analysed the Met's performance in dealing with hate crime, neighbourhood crime and sex crime.
Victoria University criminologist Jan Jordan laments the dearth of research in New Zealand. "I was at a conference recently and they didn't even know the attrition rate [the rate of complaints not recorded as crimes, not detected or not pursued by the victim]."
Jordan says if the police are serious about improving their service to victims of crime they need to find independent ways of gaining feedback. "This doesn't mean sending out an evaluation form, it means funding independent research."
Spokesman Jon Neilson confirmed police kept data only related to cases where charges were laid. There were no fulltime in-house researchers but police occasionally commissioned outside research.
An information vacuum may make it harder for New Zealand police to raise performance and gain genuine public confidence following Dame Margaret Bazley's damning commission of inquiry into (mostly historical) police misconduct. In releasing her report, Bazley effectively said the police couldn't be relied upon to make the necessary improvements and recommended the States Services Commission and Auditor-General act as watchdogs to check progress on the implementation of her 60 recommendations.
Stanko, who visited New Zealand last year to speak at the Police College, says police need help to make significant change.
"I'm not doubting the police's sincerity that's one of the reasons I work for the Metropolitan Police but you are talking about cultural change and that's very difficult to achieve unless you actually see the outcome of what you are doing .
"I can believe I'm quite frugal, for example, but if I actually look at my accounts I can see that I'm not.
"It's the difference between belief and evidence and the police is an evidence-based organisation. My job is helping them use their own evidence to drive improvement. They need help. I don't believe any organisation can do it on their own. It's got to be open and transparent and that willingness is a huge gulf for policing to cross because they are not used to being so transparent."
She understood from her trip here that New Zealand police were having discussions around citizen satisfaction, "so my sense is there are some developments there".
The revelations this month emerged from the second part of her team's review into the handling of rape complaints. Researchers had reviewed the files of 677 rapes reported in London during two months in 2005 and in the second part followed up by tracing the suspects.
A third of the reported rapes were not investigated or recorded as crimes because they were not thought to involve an offence. But the researchers discovered many of the suspects named by the complainants had a history of sex offences against women.
A third of suspects whose victims were under 18 were not investigated but had histories of violent offending.
Stanko: "One of the things we found is that although you may change the way in which you approach the treatment of victims, the whole way we investigate needs to be changed."
They spent a lot of time looking at the credibility of the women but forgot to scutinise the guys, she says.
One explanation was because cases that got to court often came down to the complainant's word against the defendant's regarding consent; and alcohol and youth were factors that could lessen the complainant's credibility.
But the researchers found that 87 per cent of rape reports were made by women whose characteristics youth, alcohol, drugs, mental illness made them vulnerable to rape but also to courtroom challenges of their credibility. The result was a preoccupation by police with the virtues or vulnerabilities of the victims rather than the propensities of the perpetrator.
"I've been advocating they do a full investigation anyway and its quite possible, even if corroborative evidence isn't found, it will give more of a [protective] buffer to the victim," says Stanko.
Rape had always been viewed as easily claimed but hard to prove "but actually it's not easy to complain either". But, says Stanko, there is evidence that more woman in London are feeling confident enough to make complaints.
She came across cases where woman who believed they had been raped but were too drunk to recall exactly what happened, still went to the police.
"I couldn't imagine [them making a complaint] 25 years ago."
Improvement is slow, but the more transparent police work and the outcomes of complaints are, the more police are focused on continuous improvement, says Stanko. "You never say 'we're doing better', without also saying 'and we are able to open our books to you and show you how'."
American-born but resident in Britain for 25 years, Stanko says she's been welcomed by her police colleagues despite her role of searching for flaws and remedies. "I've been adopted; they call me the professor."

Keeping the numbers up

A persistent problem for police is recruitment and in New Zealand this is excerbated by the need to attract quality recruits to replace senior officers who leave in their mid-50s to maximise superannuation.
Rex Miller, a detective chief inspector when he reached the compulsory retirement age of 55 in 2000, says operational experience is being lost among the police's top ranks. Compulsory retirement at 55 has been scrapped but the superannuation scheme to which many long-serving officers belong acts as a financial inducement to retire early.
That scheme has been superseded by one which doesn't disadvantage those who stay on, but the police are likely to continue to prematurely lose many experienced officers on the old scheme.
Dave Henwood, the criminal profiler who arrested serial rapist Joe Thompson, was a recent highly-skilled officer who retired early due to the financial inducement of the old scheme.
Counties-Manukau CIB head Steve Rutherford said some regions, such as Canterbury, had waiting lists while others struggled to attract sufficient staff. He rated the situation in South Auckland now as "reasonably good".
Rutherford was involved in Operation Step-Up, a campaign launched two years ago to recruit new police specifically for his region. Seminars attracted 850 people from which he estimated 35 had been accepted.
In an effort to widen the net, physical fitness standards have been eased for older recruits.
A source said though the standard of the bulk of recruits was reasonable, there was a small percentage where "you wonder how they got in with their [poor] academic ability".
Another source was concerned at what he saw as a lack of discretion. He cited the example of a successful and innovative primary school principal who was considered to have all the attributes of a good police officer but was rejected because of a 15-year-old drink-driving conviction.
In a case that made the news in 2005, a police trainee now faces trial for rape after a routine fingerprinting exercise at Police College resulted in his prints allegedly matching those from the crime scene.
"There are people getting in who shouldn't be in and people who haven't who should have," the source said.
Recruits who arrive at the police college are as good as in the past, says police recruitment manager Inspector Dawn Bell. "There's a very robust screening process to ensure the ones who aren't as good don't get through to police college."
Recruits undergo a battery of tests to assess reasoning, numeracy and verbal ability. These are scored one to 10; a minimum score of four is required. Recruits who might have failed a test but are considered suitable can take the test again.
Bell said the tight labour market was the main difficulty recruiters faced.

Appeal: Two cases in one trial fair?

2007-04-21T08:40:00.000+12:00

The Dominion Post
April 20 2007

Two rapes in one hearing 'prejudiced jury'

A former Wellington restaurant owner convicted of two separate rapes at the same trial has claimed that his jury was prejudiced by hearing the cases together.
Mustafa Can, 40, of Newtown, had been found guilty by a Wellington District Court jury of two charges of rape, one of abduction, indecent assault and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection. The first victim was a 16-year-old whom he met outside the restaurant in August 2004 and invited inside. He raped her in a toilet. Can was charged and freed on bail.
A month later he met a handicapped woman at a bar and took her to the public toilets near the Wellington waterfront lagoon, where he raped her. The name of the restaurant and the nature of the woman's handicap are suppressed.
Can was jailed for 12 years. Yesterday, he appealed against his convictions.
The Court of Appeal reserved its decision.
His lawyer, Colin Carruthers, QC, said that by allowing the two counts to be heard in one trial, it could be seen that one has infected the other.
He said there were separate issues for each complainant, the first was whether Can had a reasonable belief of consent and with the second it was whether she could consent.
Mr Carruthers said the judge had directed the jury that they had to put themselves into Can's shoes in deciding whether he had reasonable belief that the first complainant consented.
He said she then did not explain Can's particular circumstances.
It was unhelpful to have to put yourself in the accused's shoes without showing the factors involved, Mr Carruthers said. He said the two cases were not so similar that they should have been run in one trial.
Crown prosecutor Kate Feltham said the Crown had not alleged that the handicapped woman was not capable of consenting, but that she ended up in a situation she could not handle and did not understand what was happening.
She said the two cases showed a similar pattern of behaviour.

Porirua abuse allegations

2007-04-21T08:29:00.000+12:00

Radio NZ
April 20 2007; 21:34

MOH won't intervene

The Ministry of Health says it won't intervene in investigations into allegations of abuse at a secure Porirua Mental Health Unit.
The Capital and Coast District Health Board says there have been two cases of alleged assault on patients by staff members this year and three people have been dismissed as a result.
Advocates for the patients say they are subject to ongoing physical and emotional abuse, but the Ministry of Health says it's not worried about the safety of the patients.
It says it will only intervene if it has concerns about ongoing failures.
One assault is being investigated by the police.

Radio NZ
April 20 2007; 10:03

Earlier case of assault at Porirua with police

The Capital and Coast District Health Board has confirmed a second case of alleged assault on a patient at its secure unit for intellectually disabled patients in Porirua.
The board is currently investigating an allegation of assault on a patient by a staff member at the unit - known as Haumietiketike.
An employee has been suspended over that incident which is alleged to have happened on Easter Sunday.
A spokesperson for the board says an earlier alleged assault on a male patient at the unit in February saw two staff members suspended and then fired following an internal inquiry.
The matter has now been referred to police for investigation, and the board spokesperson says there are no other matters of this sort under investigation

Radio NZ
April 20 2007; 05:12

Questions over adequacy of training for union staff

The union for staff members alleged to have assaulted patients at a mental health unit says the adequacy of staff training is in question.
The police are investigating one alleged assault on a patient by staff at a secure mental health unit in Porirua, and Capital and Coast District Health Board is investigating another.
Two staff members have been dismissed and one has been suspended from the Haumietiketike (hau-mia-tike-tike) unit - a facility for intellectually disabled people whose behaviour poses a serious risk to themselves or others.
The Public Service Association says it is in discussions with the unit to see what improvements can be made in staff training.
Richard Wagstaff from the PSA says the allegations involve casual care support staff, not nurses

The Dominion Post
April 20 2007

Staff sacked after 'assaults' on patients
by Rebecca Palmer

Two staff have been fired and a third suspended after two alleged assaults on intellectually disabled patients in a secure unit.
Police are investigating one of the alleged assaults at the Haumietiketike secure unit in Porirua. Capital and Coast District Health Board is still doing its own investigation into the second.
The board's director of forensic, rehabilitation and intellectual disability services Nigel Fairley said Capital and Coast was "greatly dismayed" by the two incidents.
Haumietiketike is a secure unit for intellectually disabled people who have been involved with the courts and have behaviour that poses a serious risk to themselves or others. It opened in 2004.
Mr Fairley said two staff members were immediately suspended after allegedly assaulting a male patient in February. They were later dismissed ter an internal investigation. The matter was also referred to police.
"This was a deeply regrettable incident and we have apologised to this patient."
Constable James Wichington, of Porirua CIB, confirmed police were investigating a complaint. "We're still continuing initial inquiries."
Mr Fairley said that in the past two weeks, Capital and Coast had received another complaint about a different patient being assaulted. "This staff member was immediately suspended and the incident is under investigation."
The health board could not comment further till the investigation was complete. It is understood the patients suffered minor injuries.
The 11-bed unit, on the grounds of the former Porirua Hospital, takes intellectually disabled patients from the South Island and lower North Island. Eight other beds are in two "step-down cottages" next to the unit.

Radio NZ
April 19 2007; 15:15

Lawyer concerned about double standards

A Wellington lawyer says a case of alleged assault on a patient at a mental health unit, raises concerns about double standards for the rights of patients and staff.
The Capital and Coast District Health Board is investigating the incident at the Porirua Mental Health Unit and has suspended the staff member.
The DHB says once its investigation is complete, it will decide whether to lay a formal complaint with police.
The police are waiting for this, before taking any action.
But an advocate for the patients says this is not a one-off incident.
Wellington lawyer Michael Bott, who represents a witness to the alleged assault, says there should be a formal procedure for a patient to lay a complaint

Radio NZ
April 19 2007; 11:55

Mental health worker accused of assaulting patient

A staff member at a Wellington mental health unit has been suspended after allegedly assaulting a patient.
The incident happened at Porirua Mental Hospital's Haumietiketike unit - a facility for intellectually disabled people whose behaviour poses a serious risk to themselves or others.
A spokesperson for a disabled patient who saw the incident claims the victim was repeatedly punched by the staff member, drawing blood.
Colin Burgering, says after the witness made a statement about the incident, senior staff allegedly tried to make him change his mind about what he saw.
Capital and Coast DHB spokesperson Nigel Fairley says it has received an allegation of assault by a staff member on a male patient.
He says the staff member was immediately stood down and the allegation is being investigated.
He says the DHB is greatly dismayed by the incident.

Brethren women lay complaints

2007-04-21T08:17:00.000+12:00

Tony McCorkell has delayed his return to Australia in light of the new sex abuse claims
NZ Herald

The Nelson Mail

April 21 2007

Brethren man faces sex claims

by Vanessa Phillips

Three former Exclusive Brethren women have laid complaints with police about allegedly being sexually abused by the same man as children in Nelson.
A fourth woman is understood to be in the process of laying a complaint in Auckland about the man.
Constable Sally McBride of the Nelson CIB confirmed that she had received complaints from three women who were former members of the Exclusive Brethren church.
She also confirmed that the complaints involved allegations of historical molestation of children by one man over four decades.
The women are understood to be aged between 29 and 61 and to be alleging offending in the Nelson area between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
Mrs McBride said she had spoken to the three women who had laid complaints with Nelson police, but had not yet spoken to the man, and was unsure if he was a current or former member of the church.
However, the Nelson Mail understands that the man is still a member of the sect.
Mrs McBride said the investigation was in its early stages and it could be some time before police decided if charges would be laid.
The Nelson Mail understands that some of the women were unknown to each other before the complaints were laid.
The complaints came about after the women or friends of the women approached two former members of the Exclusive Brethren to ask for help.
The mother of the 29-year-old who has laid a complaint alleged that her daughter was six when she was sexually assaulted by the man, then a friend of the family, during overnight stays at the man's house during the space of one year.
The family left the church some years later, and the girl told her mother about the alleged abuse when she was 12. She said the man would put her to bed and touch her inappropriately.
The mother said she wrote to her parents, who were still in the church, with the allegations.
She said her daughter had no reason to make up such allegations.
"Both my daughter and I were pretty vulnerable. I had expressed my concerns in a letter home to Mum and Dad. They took their concerns to the church leaders in Nelson and had it looked into, and were told it was completely without foundation."
She said they received a letter from the man they had accused, saying he would never do such a thing.
The woman said she was a busy mother at the time and felt unable to pursue the allegations further.
She said her daughter was prepared to lay a complaint now that she knew there were other women in the same situation.
"It's not something she's been actually wanting to do, but she agreed if it was going to help the situation and make it stop."
TV One news on Thursday night reported that the church's Australia-based spokesman, Tony McCorkell, was in New Zealand to investigate the claims himself although he was not willing to admit this.
Mr McCorkell arrived on Tuesday, announcing his presence and answering media questions about the latest row over political involvement by Brethren members.
Asked by One News what the church was doing about the sexual abuse allegations, he replied: "I'm not aware of that. If you have evidence of that, I'd be glad to see it.
"If there is a claim, then the church has a moral and a legal, maybe ... obligation to look at it, depending on the circumstances, but certainly the church wouldn't seek to cover that situation up."
One woman, who was not identified, said in an interview with One News that she believed there had been "multiple offenders".
The network said the women claimed they were abused by the man when they were aged between five and 10.
Attempts by the Nelson Mail to get comment from Nelson members of the Exclusive Brethren church were unsuccessful today.

The Dominion Post

April 21 2007

Three former members say they were molested

April 21 2007

The very public face of a secretive church

by Tracy Watkins

There is nothing shadowy about the official spokesman for the Exclusive Brethren. He is young, larger than life, brash and media-savvy.

He refers to them constantly as "the seven". And occasionally even lapses into calling them the "secret seven".
A label which, incidentally, Tony McCorkell -- unlikely official spokesman for the shadowy Exclusive Brethren church -- cannot disguise his admiration for. "Terrific name," he says. "Who came up with that?"
The seven are wealthy businessmen, members of the Brethren, who admitted funding a secretive pamphlet campaign against Labour and the Greens before the 2005 election.
There is nothing shadowy or secretive about Mr McCorkell.
He is young (27), larger than life and brash -- just what you would expect of an Australian. And media- savvy, of course.
Before leaving Sydney for New Zealand, he made sure journalists knew he was on the way and obligingly distributed his cellphone number. This from a church whose members are generally notoriously uncommunicative is startling.
Well, says Mr McCorkell, he is not actually an Exclusive Brethren member, though his family used to belong.
"When I was six my family left the Brethren, so I haven't grown up in the Brethren but all my relatives are Brethren."
He votes -- and as a rule members of the church he represents don't. Which of course was one of the burning unanswered questions from the 2005 election campaign, when Brethren members actively gave time and money toward getting a National government elected.
Why do it, when they have no interest in "worldly" matters like voting?
Mr McCorkell takes a while to respond.
"Well, I can understand why the general public have that issue. But they're taxpayers. They have a right to do that. If they choose to conscientiously object from voting they also have that right."
The purpose of his trip was to "razzle up" some of the seven and have a chat with them about the need to distance the church from their political activities. That was interpreted on this side of the Tasman as the church's Australian bosses deciding it was time to knock a few heads together, but Mr McCorkell says that "where I come from razzle up just means to get together and have a chat".
But he agrees he did have "a fairly firm discussion" with the seven about their foray into the political arena.
"They said to me, 'As individuals, we want to do this'. I said, 'You have a right to do this as taxpayers, however you need to be conscious and mindful that when you do speak the church does get involved, so you need to distance yourself from that'."
The church's protestations about being at arm's length from the pamphlet campaign are too little and too late. Whether condoned or not, the activities of its members have inflicted a fatal blow on any hopes the church might hold of gaining a political ear in the foreseeable future.
The door of every important politician in New Zealand is closed to the Brethren. Frankly, they are political poison.
The wreckage of Don Brash's leadership of the National Party lies in their wake. Dr Brash was forced to admit that Brethren members had told him about their campaign plans at one of many meetings with him. Any MP unwise enough now to strike up a similar relationship would be fatally wounded. Even Australian Prime Minister John Howard has been forced on to the defensive about the right of church members to meet him.
The similarity between material distributed in New Zealand and during the Australian elections was the the "smoking gun" that pointed at direct church involvement.
The Brethren were planning to throw up to $1.2 million behind National's campaign in 2005, though it appears that they may have ended up spending just half that. In Australia, they spent at least $400,000, but again insist that the spending was done by individual church members.
Mr McCorkell concedes: "There were definitely pamphlets shared between New Zealand and Tasmania. But he says: "It's entirely reasonable to suggest that would happen, you've got businessmen in New Zealand and businessmen in Tasmania that belong to the Exclusive Brethren church, that have to do with each other on a daily basis through church as a networking arrangement.
"So the Australian group in Tasmania were fighting issues on the Green Party, and because some of the individuals over here had a similar problem they shared the resource. There was no suggestion ever that this was church-orchestrated."
So why wait two years before trying to put the record straight?
Mr McCorkell suggests it's because the Brethren were ill-equipped in 2005 to deal with the media.
"I'm not sure the Brethren were prepared for it to be such a big story. There was a great deal of naivete at the last election."
He suggests, seemingly innocently, that he would welcome a meeting with Prime Minister Helen Clark to discuss the church's stance. "The Brethren actually have good relationships with the Government in general terms at the departmental level. . . . I think we need to have a long hard look at how it's going to work in the future."
It is an admission that the Brethren have rocked the boat too far and now worry about the consequences.
But there is not much chance of a meeting with Miss Clark any time soon. Mr McCorkell's arrival in New Zealand has already sparked another media frenzy, this time over her saying she had to "up her security detail" after being harassed by Brethren members.
Mr McCorkell's parting flick then? "Everyone needs to have a cold shower, cool down, relax and just get over it."
---------------
CAPTION:
Knowledge gap: Tony McCorkell suggests that the reason the Brethren have waited two years before trying to put the record straight over church involvement in election pamphleteering is that they were ill-equipped in 2005 to deal with the media. 'There was a great deal of naivete at the last election.'
Picture: ROBERT KITCHIN

The Press

April 21 2007

Sect to help in abuse inquiry

by Don Eaton and Ian Steward

The Exclusive Brethren church has pledged to co-operate with police in an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of children.
Police said yesterday that they started an investigation five weeks ago into allegations of historical sex abuse filed by four women against a member of the secretive sect in the Nelson region.
Tasman police district commander Grant O'Fee called for people to come forward with information.
"All of the people involved either were or are Exclusive Brethren. The complaints were historical, stretching back 40 years," he said.
"They are serious sexual allegations. Some of the complainants no longer live in the Nelson area."
It is thought at least one of the women lives in Auckland.
"Police are still at the gathering-information phase. We have not yet spoken to the man in question.
"Because of the long time period, the circumstances are understandably hazy," O'Fee said.
"If these sorts of circumstances strike a chord with people, we would like to hear from them."
Asked if the sect was being co-operative, O'Fee said police had not informed it until yesterday of the investi-gation.
The women are understood to be aged between the mid-20s and the mid-60s and to be alleging offending in the Nelson area between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
The allegations come amid a political row between the Brethren and the Government, which this week accused the sect's leadership of lying about its involvement in efforts to sway the results of elections in New Zealand.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Helen Clark declined to comment on the sexual-abuse allegations.
The Labour-led Government and the National Party have traded blows over the Brethren since it was revealed during the 2005 election campaign that seven New Zealand businessman belonging to the sect planned to spend more than $1 million on advertising critical of the Government and its allies.
The Australia-based church leaders said they had yesterday started a "vigorous" investigation of their own into the allegations of sexual abuse.
Church spokesman Tony McCorkell, who arrived in Auckland this week from Queensland, said police had confirmed they were investigating.
"Obviously, the church as a whole won't make a comment on it now it has gone to that stage, other than to say the church will co-operate with any investigation fully and openly," he said.
McCorkell said earlier in the day that police had not given him details of the allegations, but he had interviewed the man accused by the women after the allegations began to filter through to the public on Thursday night.
The complaints came about after the women, or friends of the women, approached two former members of the Brethren to ask for help.
The mother of one complainant alleged her six-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by the man, then a friend of the family.
She said they received a letter from the man they had accused, saying he would never do such a thing.
She said her daughter was prepared to lay a complaint now that she knew there were other women coming forward.
McCorkell accused the complainants of keeping the church leadership in the dark. Brethren leaders in Australia and New Zealand were aware of "rumours of sexual abuse" but he would be surprised if any leaders who originally received the historical complaints were alive. "We still don't have any information on the accusers or the alleged victims."
– With the Nelson Mail

NZ Herald

April 21 2007

Brethren troubleshooter stays to deal with sex claims

by Mathew Dearnaley

Exclusive Brethren troubleshooter Tony McCorkell has delayed his return to Australia after revelations that New Zealand police are investigating claims that a member of the secretive religious sect had sexually abused children.
The Brisbane businessman, sent by the church to distance it from political activities of some New Zealand members, said last night that he would stay in this country to deal with the latest controversy.
Tasman police commander Superintendent Grant O'Fee confirmed yesterday that the police were investigating complaints by four women that they were abused as children by a man in Nelson at various times from about 20 to 40 years ago.
The women were all former members of the Exclusive Brethren, he told the Weekend Herald.
Some of the accusations referred to alleged abuse when they were aged under 10.
Mr O'Fee said although the police were treating the complaints seriously, they had yet to interview the man, who another former church member told the Herald was now in his 70s.
Mr O'Fee said he was sure his officers would seek help from the church as their inquiry unfolded, but they had yet to do so, even though he was contacted yesterday by Mr McCorkell for confirmation they were investigating complaints by the women.
Mr McCorkell, who has been in New Zealand since Tuesday discussing the impact on the church of plans by some of its senior members here to campaign against the Government, denied the sex allegations were a primary reason for his visit.
He said the alleged offender remained a member of the church but held no position of seniority.
He said that the church would give every co-operation to the police, if asked, and that he had already spoken to the man.
"My understanding is that the relationship between the alleged victims and the alleged perpetrator was a family relationship ... nothing to do with the church.
"I think the myths surrounding the church are getting a little hysterical."

The Marlborough Express

April 20 2007

Brethren man faces sex claims

Three former Exclusive Brethren women have laid complaints to police about sexual offending by a member of the Exclusive Brethren church over four decades in Nelson.
A fourth woman is understood to be in the process of laying a complaint in the North Island about the same man.
Constable Sally McBride of Nelson CIB confirmed she had received complaints from three women who were former members of the Exclusive Brethren church.
She also confirmed the complaints involved allegations of historical molestation of children over four decades by one man.
The Marlborough Express understands the women range in age from 29 to 61 and live in different parts of New Zealand. The offending took place in the Nelson area between the early 1950s and the early 1980s. Some of the women were unknown to each other before the complaints were laid.
The complaints came about after the women or friends of the women approached two former members of the Exclusive Brethren asking for help.
Mrs McBride said she had spoken to the women who had laid a complaint with Nelson police, but had not yet spoken to the man, and was unsure if he was a current or former member of the Exclusive Brethren church.
The inquiry was in the early stages, and she said it could be some time before police decided if charges would be laid.
TV One News last night reported that it was a member of the Exclusive Brethren Church who was "under police investigation" because of the complaints.
The network said the church's Australia-based spokesman, Tony McCorkell, was in New Zealand to investigate the claims himself ? although he was not willing to admit that.
Mr McCorkell arrived on Tuesday, announcing his presence and answering media questions about the latest row over political involvement by Brethren members. Asked by TV One News what the church was doing about the sexual abuse allegations, he replied: "I'm not aware of that. If you have evidence of that I'd be glad to see it.
"If there is a claim then the church has a moral and a legal, maybe ... obligation to look at it depending on the circumstances, but certainly the church wouldn't seek to cover that situation up,'' Mr McCorkell told the network.
The mother of the 29-year-old woman who laid a complaint said her daughter was six when she was sexually assaulted by the man, then a friend of the family, on overnight stays at the man's house.
The family left the Exclusive Brethren some years later and the girl told her mother about the abuse when she was 12.
She said the man would put her to bed and touch her inappropriately. The offending took place over a year.
The mother said she wrote to her parents who were still in the church with the allegations. Her parents took the concerns to church leaders in Nelson and said the issue had been looked into and found to be completely without foundation and simply the imagination of a child.
The mother said her daughter had no reason to make up such complaints.
"Both my daughter and I were pretty vulnerable, I had expressed my concerns in a letter home to mum and dad, they took their concerns to the church leaders in Nelson and had it looked into and were told it was completely without foundation."
They received a letter from the man they had accused saying he would never do a thing like that.
The mother said she was a busy solo mother at the time and felt unable to push the allegations further.
The mother said her daughter was prepared to lay charges now she knew there were other women in the same situation.
"It's not something she's been actually wanting to do, but she agreed if it was going to help the situation and make it stop."

The Nelson Mail

April 20 2007

Brethren man faces sex claims

by Vanessa Phillips

Three former Exclusive Brethren women have laid complaints with police about allegedly being sexually abused by the same man as children in Nelson.
A fourth woman is understood to be in the process of laying a complaint in Auckland about the man.
Constable Sally McBride of the Nelson CIB confirmed that she had received complaints from three women who were former members of the Exclusive Brethren church.
She also confirmed that the complaints involved allegations of historical molestation of children by one man over four decades.
The women are understood to be aged between 29 and 61 and to be alleging offending in the Nelson area between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
Mrs McBride said she had spoken to the three women who had laid complaints with Nelson police, but had not yet spoken to the man, and was unsure if he was a current or former member of the church.
However, the Nelson Mail understands that the man is still a member of the sect.
Mrs McBride said the investigation was in its early stages and it could be some time before police decided if charges would be laid.
The Nelson Mail understands that some of the women were unknown to each other before the complaints were laid.
The complaints came about after the women or friends of the women approached two former members of the Exclusive Brethren to ask for help.
The mother of the 29-year-old who has laid a complaint alleged that her daughter was six when she was sexually assaulted by the man, then a friend of the family, during overnight stays at the man's house during the space of one year.
The family left the church some years later, and the girl told her mother about the alleged abuse when she was 12. She said the man would put her to bed and touch her inappropriately.
The mother said she wrote to her parents, who were still in the church, with the allegations.
She said her daughter had no reason to make up such allegations.
``Both my daughter and I were pretty vulnerable. I had expressed my concerns in a letter home to Mum and Dad. They took their concerns to the church leaders in Nelson and had it looked into, and were told it was completely without foundation.''
She said they received a letter from the man they had accused, saying he would never do such a thing.
The woman said she was a busy mother at the time and felt unable to pursue the allegations further.
She said her daughter was prepared to lay a complaint now that she knew there were other women in the same situation.
``It's not something she's been actually wanting to do, but she agreed if it was going to help the situation and make it stop.''
TV One news last night reported that the church's Australia-based spokesman, Tony McCorkell, was in New Zealand to investigate the claims himself - although he was not willing to admit this.
Mr McCorkell arrived on Tuesday, announcing his presence and answering media questions about the latest row over political involvement by Brethren members.
Asked by One News what the church was doing about the sexual abuse allegations, he replied: ``I'm not aware of that. If you have evidence of that, I'd be glad to see it.
``If there is a claim, then the church has a moral and a legal, maybe ... obligation to look at it, depending on the circumstances, but certainly the church wouldn't seek to cover that situation up.''
One woman, who was not identified, said in an interview with One News that she believed there had been ``multiple offenders''.
The network said the women claimed they were abused by the man when they were aged between five and 10.
Attempts by the Nelson Mail to get comment from Nelson members of the Exclusive Brethren church were unsuccessful today.

Police rape claim - Investigation

2007-04-20T17:39:00.000+12:00

Stuff
April 20 2007

Investigator to look at Dunedin police rape allegation

An independent investigator has been appointed to look into a historic rape allegation against Dunedin police.
Investigate magazine is reporting in its May issue that a young court worker was allegedly raped by a policeman during a barrister's office Christmas party in the 1990s.
A statement from police national headquarters today said that an independent investigator will make preliminary inquiries into the allegation then an assessment will be made of the information provided.
Dunedin and Clutha area commander Inspector Dave Campbell yesterday confirmed to the Otago Daily Times that an investigation relating to the allegation was under way.
He declined to provide details about the inquiry, or the people being investigated.
The claim was made by a woman, identified as Christine, who said the court worker was raped during the party, which was attended by about 12 lawyers and several off-duty police officers.
The latest claim comes after high-profile trials of police involving historic rape allegations and after a report by Dame Margaret Bazley found evidence of disgraceful sexual behaviour by some officers over the past 25 years and made 60 recommendations

NZ Police
April 20 2007; 16:22

Independent Investigator appointed
Police National News Release

An independent investigator has been appointed to make preliminary inquiries about recent allegations involving Dunedin Police.
Once those preliminary inquiries have been completed, an assessment will be made of the information provided.

Porirua Hospital abuse allegations

2007-04-20T17:31:00.000+12:00

Radio NZ
April 20 2007; 16:57

Second case of alleged patient assault confirmed

Wellington's Capital and Coast District Health Board has confirmed a second case of alleged assault on a patient at its secure unit for intellectually disabled patients in Porirua.
The board is currently investigating an allegation of assault on a patient by a staff member at the unit, which is known as Haumietiketike.
An employee has been suspended over that incident, which is alleged to have happened on Easter Sunday.
A spokesperson for the board says an earlier alleged assault on a male patient at the unit in February resulted in two staff members being suspended and then fired after an internal inquiry.
The matter has now been referred to police for investigation, and the board spokesperson says there are no other matters of this sort under investigation.
Police in Porirua have confirmed they are investigating the earlier complaint, but are waiting for the outcome of the district health board inquiry before deciding whether to look at the more recent incident.

One News

April 20 2007

Health unit involved in assault scandal

Two staff members have been sacked from a Porirua based mental health unit after they allegedly assaulted a patient.
The Capital & Coast District Health Board has also suspended a third member of staff for an alleged attack on another patient at the Haumietiketike secure unit over Easter.
The health board is conducting an internal inquiry, but some say the police should be involved.
"I think that it's offensive to justice and it's treating these people as second rate citizens," said human rights lawyer Michael Bott.
The unit houses up to a dozen intellectually disabled people who have been before the courts.
"We're talking about people who have been placed under court orders and who are with an organisation that is charged in law with their rehabilitation, so it's quite proper that there is an internal investigation around that," said Ministry of Health Advisor Lester Mundell.
The ministry says it still has confidence in its management.
"This new unit has been specially constructed and has been operating now for about three years. During that time there have been a small number of incidents reported, so I don't regard it as a systemic issue at all," said Mundell.
Police say they are investigating the first incident, but are waiting on the health board's internal review before considering any action over the latest allegation.
No-one from The Capital & Coast District Health Board would appear on camera. However, it says it has apologised to the victim of one of the alleged assaults and is keeping the other patient informed about the internal inquiry into the second incident.

Newstalk ZB

April 20 2007; 17:32

Incident investigated at mental health unit

Police have confirmed they are investigating an incident at a Porirua Mental Health Unit.
A staff member at the Haumietikitiki unit has been suspended by Capital and Coast Health after allegations they assaulted a patient. Police are looking into a second complaint made by another patient.
The secure unit is for intellectually disabled people needing specialist treatment.

Newswire

April 20 2007; 16:50

Police investigate assault on mental health patient

Police have confirmed they are investigating one of two alleged assaults on patients by staff members at a mental health unit in Porirua.
The incident being investigated is said to have taken place at the secure unit, Haumietiketike, in February.
Capital and Coast District Health Board says two employees were dismissed after an alleged assault on a male patient.
The board is also investigating another allegation of violence against a patient resulting on Easter Sunday, and a staff member has been suspended.
Police in Porirua have confirmed they are investigating the earlier complaint, but are waiting for the outcome of the DHB inquiry before deciding whether to look at the more recent incident.

NZ Police

April 20 2007; 16:49

Police Investigating Alleged Assault At Haumietiketike

Press Release

On 6 March Porirua Police received a complaint on behalf of a patient at Haumietiketike, the secure unit for intellectually disabled patients at Porirua.
Police are conducting inquiries in relation to this complaint, which involves a patient who alleges that he was assaulted by two staff members.
Police cannot comment further until the investigation is complete.
Police are also aware that Capital and Coast District Health Board is conducting its own investigation in relation to a second complaint made by another patient. Pending the outcome of the CCDHB investigation, a formal complaint may be laid with the Police.

Newstalk ZB

April 19 2007; 14:04

Porirua mental health worker suspended

A staff member at a Porirua mental health unit has been suspended over allegations they assaulted a patient.
The Haumietiketike unit is for intellectually disabled people needing specialist treatment.
Capital and Coast District Health Board has confirmed a staff member has been stood down and it is investigating an allegation of assault on a male patient.

Brethren allegations investigation

2007-04-20T17:20:00.000+12:00

Exclusive Brethren PR man Tony McCorkell

(Three News)

Three News

April 20 2007; 12:26

Police confirm Brethren sexual abuse investigation

Nelson police have confirmed that they are investigating three historic complaints of sexual abuse by a senior member of the Exclusive Brethren.
Police say the complaints made by three women involve allegations of child molestation over four decades.
The offending is alleged to have taken place between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
Police say they have not yet spoken to the man and are unsure if he is a current or former member of the Exclusive Brethren.

One News

April 20 2007

Brethren abuse claims investigated

Police have confirmed a senior member of the Exclusive Brethren church is under investigation after claims he has been sexually abusing children for decades, despite a spokesperson for the church denying all knowledge when the claims were publicised.
Following a six-month ONE News investigation, it was revealed on Thursday that four women, all former members of the church, laid complaints against the man, claiming they were abused when they were aged between five and 10.
The alleged abuse stretches back decades. The eldest complainant is now 61 years old, and the youngest in her mid 20s.
Neither the man nor the house where he allegedly sexually abused a six-year-old girl can be identified, but police say they are investigating the senior member.
"These are serious allegations of sexual...of course we're interested in the activities of a person we're investigating, just like any offence. They could still be committing offences," says Superintendent Grant O'Fee.
The police investigation was launched five weeks ago. So far two of the four complainants have been interviewed.
As the alleged abuse stretches back 40 years, police say they will need co-operation from those inside the secretive church.
"We will have discussions with the church I'm sure as the inquiry unfolds, but as yet that's not an issue for us," says O'Fee.
In a ONE News interview on Thursday, the Exclusive Brethren officially denied any knowledge of the abuse claims. The church's Australia based spokesperson Tony McCorkell, who is currently in New Zealand, said he was "not aware" of the allegations.
However, after McCorkell asked the cameras to stop rolling, he admitted he had just come from a meeting where the sexual abuse claims were discussed - and said "I haven't even formulated my opinion on it yet".
On Friday, the Exclusive Brethren attempted to discredit the ONE News story.
"I feel it's a trial by media. I think Mr Tornquist from ONE News has done a hatchet job on the Brethren. I'm disappointed. I'm very disappointed and would urge the members of the public not to react to this issue," says McCorkell.
However, O'Fee is asking anyone with knowledge of abuse within the church to contact police
"If they think or they have information about people that were abused, or if they were abused...this may go back 40 years ago, we would like to speak to those people and we would urge them to come forward and to bring their stories to us".

Radio NZ

April 20 2007; 16:57

Police investigate sex abuse claims involving former Exclusive Brethren members

Police in Nelson have confirmed they are investigating claims of sexual abuse involving former members of the Exclusive Brethren church.
They say the allegations are serious and date back up to 40 years, to when some of the victims were under 10.
Superintendent Grant O'Fee says there are four female complainants - all of whom have now left the church.
Mr O'Fee says he believes the man involved has also left the church.
He says police have not yet spoken to the man allegedly involved and the investigation is in its early stages. He is urging any other victims to come forward.
A spokesperson for the Exclusive Brethren says the church will cooperate with the police investigation.
Tony McCorkell says the accused is an elderly member of the church.

Newswire

April 20 2007; 15:15

Exclusive Brethren link to abuse claims

Police in Nelson have confirmed they are investigating claims of sexual abuse involving former members of the Exclusive Brethren church.
They say the allegations are very serious and date back up to 40 years to when some of the victims were under the age of 10.
Superintendent Grant O'Fee says there are four female complainants. All have now left the church.
Superintendent O'Fee says he believes the man involved has also left the church.
He says police have not yet spoken with the man allegedly involved and the investigation is in its early stages.
He is urging any other victims to come forward.

Stuff

April 20 2007; (Updated Report)

Brethren sex abuse claims being investigated by police

Nelson police are investigating complaints from three former Exclusive Brethren women alledging they were sexually abused by a reportedly senior member of the secret religious sect when they were children.
A police spokeswoman said today the complaints involved allegations of child molestation over four decades.
The offending is alleged to have taken place between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
The spokeswoman said police had not yet spoken to the man and were unsure if he was a current or former member of the Exclusive Brethren.
The spokeswoman said the investigation was in its early stages and it could be some time before police decided if charges would be laid.
A fourth woman is understood to be making a complaint against the man in Auckland.
Television One News alleged last night the church's Australia-based spokesman, Tony McCorkell, currently in New Zealand, was investigating the claims – although he denied that when interviewed by the channel yesterday. Asked what the church was doing about the sexual abuse allegations, he replied: "I'm not aware of that. If you have evidence of that I'd be glad to see it."
Mr McCorkell said the church would never try to cover up such allegations.
But TV One said two of the women, former members of the sect, had told church leaders about the abuse at the time it happened and were ignored.
One woman, who was not identified, said she believed there had been "multiple offenders".
"If I went and asked them now they would try and deny it because in there it's a huge guilt and fear thing," she said.
"A lot of people who perhaps have been involved in that sort of thing would not go outside the church for help."
TV One reported that the complainants believed children could have been molested as recently as last year.
It said the women had not known of each other's cases until recently, and came forward following previous reports of sexual abuse.
The network said the women – aged between the early 20s and 61 – claimed they were abused by the man when they were aged between five and 10.

NZ Herald

April 20 2007; 12:10

Police probe Brethren sex abuse claims

Police are investigating claims from three women that they were sexually abused by a reportedly senior member of the Exclusive Brethren sect when they were children.
A police spokeswoman said today the complaints involved allegations of child molestation over four decades.
The offending is alleged to have taken place between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
The spokeswoman said police had not yet spoken to the man and were unsure if he was a current or former member of the Exclusive Brethren.
The spokeswoman said the investigation was in its early stages and it could be some time before police decided if charges would be laid.
A fourth woman is understood to be making a complaint against the man in Auckland.
Television One News alleged last night the church's Australia-based spokesman, Tony McCorkell, currently in New Zealand, was investigating the claims -- although he denied that when interviewed by the channel yesterday.
Asked what the church was doing about the sexual abuse allegations, he replied: "I'm not aware of that. If you have evidence of that I'd be glad to see it."
Mr McCorkell said the church would never try to cover up such allegations.
But TV One said two of the women, former members of the sect, had told church leaders about the abuse at the time it happened and were ignored.
One woman, who was not identified, said she believed there had been "multiple offenders".
"If I went and asked them now they would try and deny it because in there it's a huge guilt and fear thing," she said.
"A lot of people who perhaps have been involved in that sort of thing would not go outside the church for help."
TV One reported that the complainants believed children could have been molested as recently as last year.
It said the women had not known of each other's cases until recently, and came forward following previous reports of sexual abuse.
The network said the women -- aged between the early 20s and 61 -- claimed they were abused by the man when they were aged between five and 10.

Salvation Army Officer - Guilty

2007-04-20T17:17:00.000+12:00

Newswire
April 20 2007; 18:40

Salvation Army dismisses officer and apologises to women

The Salvation Army has apologised to four women sexually abused by one of its officers.
Maxwell Trimble, 62, has been convicted on seven charges of sexual offending against the women between December 2003 and July 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
Army spokesperson, Major Ross Gower says the army's disappointed one of its people has abused the trust and care of duty expected of an officer.
He says the church apologises to the four women and hopes the court decision has helped them.
Major Gower says Trimble has now been dismissed by the Salvation Army

NZ Herald
April 20 2007; 19:00

Former Salvation Army man guilty of sex offences
NZPA

A former Salvation Army man has been found guilty by a jury in the High Court in Hamilton today of seven charges of sexually and indecently assaulting four women.
Former Waihi and Tauranga Salvation Army captain Maxwell Lawrence Trimble, 64, of Waihi, had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of sexually and indecently assaulting the women between December 2003 and February 2005.
One of the charges was withdrawn during the hearing.
The jury took five hours to reach its decision and when the verdicts were read to the court Trimble's wife shouted: "I love you."
Trimble was remanded in custody for sentence on June 8.
One of the victims had earlier told the court Trimble had fondled her breast and put his hand down her pants while helping her write a letter.
Another said he had threatened to fail her on her probation conditions unless she had sex with him.
Another woman said she was forced to have oral sex with Trimble

Newstalk ZB
April 20 2007

Salvation Army captain found guilty

A Hamilton jury has returned guilty verdicts on all charges of sexual indecency faced by a member of the Salvation Army involving four women.
The trial of Max Trimble has been running in the High Court since Monday. Trimble was convicted of sexual offending against the women when he was Salvation Army captain in Mt Maunganui and Waihi between 2003 and 2005.
The complainants were all receiving support and counseling from Trimble for a range of problems at the time the offending took place. Trimble has been remanded in custody for sentencing in June.

Radio NZ
April 20 2007; 16:57

Salvation Armyofficer found guilty on sex charges

A Salvation Army officer has been found guilty of sexual indecencies against four women. Maxwell Trimble, 62, has been convicted on seven charges of sexual offending against the women between December 2003 and July 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi. The jury of six men and six women took about four hours to reach its verdict after a four-day trial. Trimble has been remanded in custody for sentencing in June. The Salvation Army has apologised to the four women. Spokesperson Ross Gower says it is disappointed that one of its members has abused the trust and care of duty expected of an officer. He says Trimble was on suspension but has now been dismissed.

Newswire
April 20 2007; 16:02

Salvation Army officer found guilty on sex charges

A Salvation Army officer has been found guilty of sexual indecencies against four women.
Maxwell Trimble, 62, has been convicted on seven charges of sexual offending against the women between December 2003 and July 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
The jury of six men and six women took about four hours to reach its verdict after a four-day trial.
Trimble has been remanded in custody for sentencing in June

Rape with drugs - Guilty

2007-04-20T17:12:00.000+12:00

Stuff
April 20 2007

Man who drugged, raped woman jailed for 8 years
NZPA

A former employee of the Ministry of Fisheries has been jailed for more than eight years for raping a woman he had drugged.
Justice Simon France in the High Court in Wellington today sentenced Richard Duncan Win, 55, to eight years and three months jail with no minimum non-parole period.
A jury had found Win guilty of raping a woman he worked with after he drugged her with his own medication.
"The act was cowardly and despicable, you administered a drug so you could rape her and then proceeded to do so," Justice France said to Win during sentencing.
"Why you would choose to act that way towards the later part of your working life, I do not know."
A charge of stupefying her had been dropped because it was deemed she was so drunk, the drug found in her system was not likely to have made any difference to her state.
Justice France said after drinking with Win the woman woke up in his bed and discovered she had been raped.
Win had claimed during the trial the woman had come into his room and wanted to have sex with him.
Justice France said Win took advantage of the woman, who was "not in a condition to resist".
He said the woman had previously suffered from depression.
"The rape has undoubtedly had severe consequences on her emotional wellbeing."
Defence counsel John Sandston said Win maintained his innocence. Win had a dishonesty conviction in the United States, but no prior convictions in New Zealand.
Win had worked as a fisheries observer.

3 Brethren sex abuse complaints

2007-04-20T11:50:00.000+12:00

Stuff
April 20 2007; 11:40 (Updated Report)

Women lay sex abuse claims against Brethren member
NZPA

UPDATED REPORT: Nelson police are investigating complaints from three former Exclusive Brethren women allegding have they were sexually abused by a reportedly senior member of the secret religious sect when they were children.
A police spokeswoman said today the complaints involved allegations of child molestation over four decades.
The offending is alleged to have taken place between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
The spokeswoman said police had not yet spoken to the man and were unsure if he was a current or former member of the Exclusive Brethren.
TV One News reported last night that the church's Australia-based spokesman, Tony McCorkell, was in New Zealand to investigate the claims himself – although he was not willing to admit that.
Mr McCorkell arrived on Tuesday, announcing his presence and answering media questions about the latest row over political involvement by Brethren members.
Asked by reporter Ben Tornquist what the church was doing about the sexual abuse allegations, he replied: "I'm not aware of that. If you have evidence of that I'd be glad to see it."
Mr McCorkell said the church would never try to cover up such allegations.
But TV One News said two of the women, former members of the sect, had told church leaders about the abuse at the time it happened and were ignored.
One woman, who was not identified, said in an interview with Tornquist she believed there had been "multiple offenders".
"If I went and asked them now they would try and deny it because in there it's a huge guilt and fear thing," she said.
"A lot of people who perhaps have been involved in that sort of thing would not go outside the church for help."
Tornquist reported that the complainants believed children could have been molested as recently as last year.
He said the women had not known of each other's cases until recently, and came forward following previous TV One reports of sexual abuse.

ACC - Support for rape victims

2007-04-20T10:27:00.000+12:00

Three News
April 20 2007; 14:18

ACC introducing new measures to help rape complainants

The process of reporting a rape complaint is about to become more streamlined with new measures to be introduced by the ACC.

Nationwide clinics will be set up to provide a coordinated service which will reduce the amount of time a complainant has to spend travelling between providers.

ACC spokeswoman Anne O'Connell says there will be one-stop-shops for forensic examinations, Victim Support help, and ACC assessment.

Stuff
April 20 2007

Faster ACC support for rape victims on its way
by Grant Fleming - NZPA

Rape victims could soon get quicker support from ACC under a plan to set up a series of one-stop shops for women who've been sexually attacked.
Police and rape survivor groups have criticised the low number of clinics available to perform forensic examinations on victims, meaning they often have to travel a long way to be seen.
They have also criticised the length of time it can take ACC to process claims for financial and other support.
But ACC chief executive Jan White today told a parliamentary inquiry into victims' rights that ACC, in conjunction with police and the Health Ministry, was drawing up a plan that would see about 18 clinics around the country provide a co-ordinated service for sexual attack victims.
At the clinics victims would be able to undergo a forensic examination, receive help from Victim Support and undergo an ACC assessment all at the same time.
That would greatly speed up the time it took many victims to receive ACC support for things like childcare and counselling as a result of their injuries.
It would also ensure there were adequate forensic examination services throughout the country.
In January Tauranga police highlighted the case of a 13-year-old rape victim who, due to a shortage of doctors trained in handling sex cases, had to undergo a two-hour return trip to Whakatane for an examination.
Director of Auckland-based Rape Prevention Education Kim McGregor previously told the justice and electoral select committee the situation was similar in many other places around New Zealand.
ACC has also come under fire from the Sensible Sentencing Trust for the length of time it takes to process claims – often several weeks.
Ms White said ACC was leading work on the new setup and a report was expected around May.
"The amount of services around New Zealand where women can actually get immediate assessment is not satisfactory."
Services also lacked co-ordination, she said.
"What we are trying to do is get the forensic examination done at the same time as our assessment of the injury so we don't have to put women through two lots of assessment," she said.
"Once we have that it will be clear for us, for police, for health, for whoever else it is what needs to be provided at that time."
ACC would fund the service.

Radio NZ
April 20 2007; 07:24

ACC looks to set up one-stop centres for rape

ACC is to fund the training of specialist doctors to treat rape victims as part of new services to be set up across the country.
Chief executive Jan White says there is a lack of services for rape victims needing urgent attention and assessment. She says ACC has been working with police and the Ministry of Health to set up centres with all the services needed.
Ms White says having a trained doctor, police, victim support and an ACC assessor available will help establish victims' needs and reduce the amount of stress they are put through.
The services will be announced in May.

Another police rape claim

2007-04-20T10:25:00.000+12:00

Stuff
April 20 2007

Another police rape claim under investigation
NZPA

A claim that a young woman was raped by a police officer at a Christmas party about 10 years ago is being investigated after a national magazine published details of the alleged incident.
Investigate magazine in its May 2007 issue reports that a young court worker was allegedly raped by a policeman during a barrister's office Christmas party in the 1990s.
Dunedin and Clutha area commander Inspector Dave Campbell yesterday confirmed to the Otago Daily Times an investigation relating to the allegation was under way.
He declined to provide details about the inquiry, or the people being investigated.
"We have got to respect the privacy of individuals," he said.
The claim was made by a woman, identified as Christine, who said the court worker was raped during the party which was attended by about 12 lawyers and several off-duty police officers.

NZ Herald
April 20 2007

Article triggers another police rape investigation
ref Otago Daily Times

Police are investigating a woman's allegations that a Dunedin police officer raped another woman at a party in the city eight to 10 years ago.
Dunedin and Clutha area commander Inspector Dave Campbell confirmed yesterday that an investigation relating to an article in the May issue of Investigate magazine was under way.
He declined to provide more details about the investigation or the people being investigated, saying, "We have to respect the privacy of individuals".
The Investigate article reported the "claim and counterclaim" concerning the alleged rape of a young court worker by a policeman at a barrister's office in the 1990s.
The claim was made by a woman named as Christine, who alleged the court worker was raped during a midwinter Christmas party.
She said that about 12 lawyers and several off-duty police officers were at the party.
Mr Campbell said the incident was one of 18 investigations by police about Dunedin officers.
He confirmed that an investigation was under way into an incident in the Dunedin Central police station bar, where it is understood two off-duty officers are said to have abused two senior officers.
Other complaints under investigation included three relating to police pursuits and another was historical.
Mr Campbell said 18 investigations was an average number at any time for Dunedin police.

Otago Daily Times
April 20 2007

Dunedin police rape claim inquiry
by Sarah Harvey

Allegations published in a national magazine that a Dunedin police officer raped a woman at a party in the city eight to 10 years ago are being investigated by Dunedin police.
Dunedin and Clutha area commander Inspector Dave Campbell yesterday confirmed, when approached, an investigation relating to an article in the May 2007 issue of Investigate magazine was under way.
Insp Campbell declined to provide more details about the investigation, or the people being investigated.
“We have got to respect the privacy of individuals,” he said.
The Investigate article reported the “claim and counterclaim” of an alleged rape of a young court worker by a policeman at a barrister’s office in the 1990s.
The claim was made by a woman named as Christine, who alleged the woman was raped during a midwinter Christmas party.
The woman alleged about 12 lawyers and several off-duty police officers were at the party.
Insp Campbell said the incident was one of 18 inquiries by police about Dunedin officers.
Insp Campbell confirmed an incident in the Dunedin Central Police Station bar was also being investigated. It is understood two off-duty police officers allegedly abused two senior officers in the bar.
Asked to comment on that incident, Insp Campbell said: “It is an internal matter currently under investigation”.
He would not answer any more questions on the matter.
Other complaints under investigation included three relating to police pursuits.
Eighteen investigations was an average number at any time for Dunedin police, he said.
Many of the complaints were trivial, but all had to follow proper process.
There were no half-smeasures when a complaint was made against police and the process could take months or even years, Insp Campbell said.
Some complaints were dealt with by police, and others referred to the Police Complaints Authority. Members of the public could take complaints directly to the Police Complaints Authority, Insp Campbell said.

Salvation Army Officer Trial Closing

2007-04-20T10:16:00.000+12:00

Newswire
April 19 2007; 17:51

Lawyers Give Closing Arguments In Salvation Army Officer Case

The jury in the case of a Salvation Army officer accused of indecently assaulting four women has heard closing arguments from the Crown and defence.
Sixty two year old Maxwell Trimble is facing eight charges in the High Court at Hamilton of sexual offending against the women between December 2003 and July 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
The Crown alleges the accused abused his position as a Captain in the Salvation Army and took advantage of vulnerable women.
Prosecutor, Rebecca Mann told the jury the women were honest, straight forward and reliable witnesses.
The defence lawyer, Paul Mabey QC said their evidence was inconsistent, bizarre and unrealistic.
Justice Williams will sum up the case tomorrow morning before the jury retires.

Radio NZ
April 19 2007; 17:19

Lawyers give closing arguments in Salvation Army officer case

The jury in the case of a Salvation Army officer accused of indecently assaulting four women has heard closing arguments from the Crown and defence.
62 year old Maxwell Trimble is facing eight charges in the High Court at Hamilton of sexual offending against the women between December 2003 and July 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
The Crown alleges the accused abused his position as a Captain in the Salvation Army and took advantage of vulnerable women.
Prosecutor, Rebecca Mann told the jury the women were honest, straight forwward and reliable witnesses.
The defence lawyer, Paul Mabey QC said their evidence was inconsistent, bizarre and unrealistic.
Justice Williams will sum up the case tomorrow morning before the jury retires.

Radio NZ
April 18 2007; 20:52

Salvation Army officer denies sex charges

A Salvation Army officer accused of indecently assaulting four women denies anything untoward took place.
Maxwell Trimble, 62, is facing eight charges at the High Court in Hamilton of sexual offending against the women between December 2003 and July 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
A ninth charge has been dismissed by the court.
The Crown alleges the accused offended against vulnerable women while in a position of authority as a Salvation Army captain.
The defence opened its case with lawyer Paul Mabey, QC, telling the jury his client claims nothing happened as alleged by the women.
Giving evidence, the accused denied touching one complainant inappropriately, saying the only touching was a holy hug - the way church members greet each other in public.
Saliva points to complainant - scientist
Earlier, during the the Crown's presentation of its case, a scientist told the court that DNA found in Mr Trimble's underwear was much more likely to have come from a woman who accuses him of indecent assault than anyone else.
The DNA evidence relates to the fourth complainant.
The Environmental Science and Research scientist told the court that saliva from the woman found in the accused's underpants worn on the night of the alleged incident is ten million times more likely to be from the complainant than any random person.

Newswire
April 18 2007; 18:55

Salvation Army officer denies any wrongdoing

A Salvation Army officer accused of indecently assaulting four women denies anything untoward ever took place.
Maxwell Trimble, who is 62, is facing eight charges in the High Court at Hamilton of sexual offending against the women between December 2003 and July 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
A ninth charge has been dismissed by the court.
The Crown alleges the accused offended against vulnerable women while in a position of authority as a Salvation Army Captain.
The defence opened its case with lawyer Paul Mabey QC telling the jury his client claims nothing happened as alleged by the women.
Giving evidence, the accused denied touching one complainant inappropriately, saying the only touching was a holy hug - the way church members greet each other in public.

Radio NZ
April 18 2007; 15:20

DNA evidence presented in sexual offending case

A scientist has told the High Court that DNA found in the underwear of a Salvation Army officer was much more likely to have come from a woman who accuses him of indecent assault than anyone else.
Maxwell Trimble, 62, is facing nine charges at the High Court in Hamilton of sexual offending against four women between December 2003 and July 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
The DNA evidence relates to the fourth complainant.
The Environmental Science and Research scientist told the court that saliva from the woman found in the accused's underpants worn on the night of the alleged incident is ten million times more likely to be from the complainant than any random person.
The Crown has finished presenting its case

The Dominion Post
April 18 2007

Sex charges trial

A former Salvation Army captain is facing sex charges in the High Court at Hamilton. Maxwell Lawrence Trimble, 64, of Waihi, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of sexually and indecently assaulting four women between December 2003 and 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
A woman told the court Trimble had fondled her breast and put his hand down her pants.
Defence lawyer Paul Mabey, QC, suggested she had been in love with Trimble and the alleged incidents never happened.
Crown prosecutor Rebecca Mann said a second woman claimed Trimble threatened to fail her on her probation conditions unless she had sex with him

Radio NZ
April 17 2007; 15:16

Lawyer questions credibility of witness

The lawyer for a Salvation Army captain facing sex charges has questioned the credibility of one of the complainants.
Maxwell Trimble, 62, is facing nine charges in the High Court at Hamilton of sexual offending against four women between December 2003 and January 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
The second of the four women finished giving evidence on Tuesday.
Under cross-examination, the woman admitted she had been in prison five times for dishonesty. She said she was a drug addict but strenuously denied claims that she was lying about the allegations.
She says she was indecently assaulted by Mr Trimble on three occasions while he was supervising her on community service.

One News
April 17 2007

Woman tells court of Salvation abuse

A woman has told the High Court at Hamilton she was abused by a Salvation Army captain while he was her community services supervisor.
Max Trimble is on trial on nine sex charges relating to four women when he was a Salvation Army captain in Mt Maunganui and Waihi in 2003 and 2004.
The woman says Trimble had sex with her three times while he was supervising her for community service at Mt Maunganui Salvation Army in 2004.
The woman claims Trimble told her he could make things easy for her if she had sex with him. She says she felt she had no choice because of her trouble with the law and his power and position.
Trimble's Lawyer Paul Mabey claims the woman is a liar who has more than 150 convictions for dishonesty offences.

Newstalk ZB
April 17 2007; 14:32

Salvation Army captain faces sex charges

A woman has told the High Court at Hamilton she was abused by a Salvation Army captain while he was her community services supervisor.
Max Trimble is on trial on nine sex charges relating to four women, when he was a Salvation Army captain in Mt Maunganui and Waihi in 2003 and 2004.
The woman says Trimble had sex with her three times while he was supervising her for community service at Mt Maunganui Salvation Army in 2004.
The woman claims Trimble told her he could make things easy for her if she had sex with him. She says she felt she had no choice because of her trouble with the law and his power and position.
Trimble's Lawyer Paul Mabey claims the woman is a liar who has more than 150 convictions for dishonesty offences.

Waikato Times
April 17 2007

Former Sallies captain in court on sex charges

A former Salvation Army captain is facing sex charges in the High Court in Hamilton.
Maxwell Lawrence Trimble, 64, of Waihi, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of sexually and indecently assaulting four women between December 2003 and 2005 while he was a Salvation Army captain in Tauranga and Waihi.
At the first day of the five-day jury trial before Justice Williams yesterday, a woman told the court Trimble had fondled her breast and put his hand down her pants while he was helping her write letters between December 2003 and February 2004.
Defence lawyer Paul Mabey QC suggested the woman had been in love with Trimble and the alleged incidents never happened.
Crown prosecutor Rebecca Mann told the court a second woman, also from Tauranga, claimed Trimble threatened to fail her on her probation conditions unless she had sex with him.
The third and fourth offences allegedly occurred after Trimble moved to Waihi in 2005. The trial is expected to finish on Friday.

Radio NZ
April 16 2007; 17:16

Woman says she felt powerless to stop assault

A woman on community service has told the High Court in Hamilton that she felt powerless to stop a Salvation Army officer sexually assaulting her.
62 year old Maxwell Trimble is facing nine charges of sexual offending against four women between December 2003 and January 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.
The 44 year old woman says Captain Trimble had sexual intercourse with her against her will on four occasions.
She says he told her he would make things easier for her and she assumed this to mean her community service.
Earlier, the court heard from an intellectually disabled woman who says the accused tried to fondle her.

Radio NZ
April 16 2007; 16:26

Court told Salvation Army officer abused his position

A woman on community service has told the High Court in Hamilton that she felt powerless to stop a Salvation Army officer sexually assaulting her.
62 year old Maxwell Trimble is facing nine charges of sexual offending against four women between December 2003 and January 2005 in Tauranga and Waihi.

Radio NZ
April 16 2007; 16:19

Salvation Army officer in court on sex charges

A Salvation Army officer accused of sexual offending against four women has gone on trial in Hamilton.
Maxwell Trimble is facing nine charges in the High Court, including indecent assault, sexual connection by threat and sexual violation, while he was working for the Salvation Army in Tauranga and Waihi between December 2003 and January 2005.
He is currently on suspension from the Salvation Army.
The Crown alleges the offending took place while he was in a position of authority as a Salvation Army captain and was meant to be helping the women.
The prosecution plans to 16 witnesses in a trial expected to last a week.

Waikato Times
November 14 2006

Sex trial for Waihi man

A Salvation Army officer will stand trial on sexual charges involving four women after a case was found to answer at his depositions hearing in Waihi. Maxwell Lawrence Trimble, 61, appeared in the District Court in Waihi last week on eight charges including indecent assault, inducing sexual connection by coercion, attempted sexual violation and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection between 2003 and 2005.

Hauraki Herald
August 21 2006

Waihi man faces sex crime charges

A Waihi Salvation Army Captain has been charged with indecent assault and attempted sexual violation.
Maxwell Lawrence Trimble (61) appeared in the Waihi District Court on Tuesday and entered no plea to charges of indecent assault, inducing sexual connection by coercion, attempted sexual violation and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.
The charges relate to complaints made by four women and allegedly took place when Mr Trimble served at the Tauranga, Mt Maunganui and Waihi Salvation Army Centres between 2003 and mid-2005.
He was remanded on bail to reappear on September 16.
Detective Sergeant Glenn Tinsley says police have been investigating the charges against Mr Trimble for over a year and they are not ruling out further complaints coming forward.
Mr Trimble voluntarily stepped down from his Salvation Army duties a month ago.

NZ Herald
August 17 2006

Salvation Army man faces sex charges

A Salvation Army captain has been charged with eight sex offences after a year-long police investigation.
Maxwell Lawrence Trimble, 61, faces two charges of indecent assault, four of inducing sexual connection by coercion, one of attempted sexual violation and one charge of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.
He entered no plea when he appeared in the Waihi District Court yesterday. He was bailed to reappear on September 14.
The assaults are alleged to have taken place between late 2003 and mid 2005, while Trimble served at the Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Waihi Salvation Army centres.

Waikato Times
August 16 2006

Sex charges for Sallies captain

A Salvation Army captain appeared in the Waihi District Court yesterday charged with eight sex offences he is alleged to have committed against four women between December 2004 and May 2005.
Maxwell Lawrence Trimble, 61, of Waihi, faces charges of sexual violation, assault with intent to commit sexual violation and two charges of indecent assault.
He also faces four charges of inducing sexual connection with a woman.
Lawyer Michael Curtis, acting on behalf of Trimble's lawyer Paul Mabey, asked for Trimble to be remanded without plea to reappear in the court on September 14.
This was granted by Justice of the Peace Homer Stubbs, on the condition Trimble stayed at his home and did not associate with his alleged victims.
Trimble was also granted permission not to appear in person at the next hearing.
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CHARGED: Salvation Army captain Maxwell Trimble outside the Waihi District Court yesterday.

Hauraki Herald
March 10 2006

Thank God for the Sallies
by Paula Trubshaw

Local kids call it their restaurant. For single parents it's an opportunity to get out of the house, enjoy some adult company, and indulge in a meal they haven't had to prepare themselves. For others it's a safe place to socialise away from the pub and club scene.
Dining out is a luxury beyond the reach of many, but thanks to the Salvation Army in Waihi, it has become an option for everyone.
Patrons from as far away as Whangamata and Katikati flock to the town with a heart of gold on Wednesday nights where they enjoy a professionally cooked meal in a relaxed family environment --- courtesy of the community.
Salvation Army captains Max and Elvyn Trimble introduced the community meal concept soon after they moved to Waihi from Tauranga around a year ago.
"We could see there was a need in town for somewhere for people to socialise away from the pub club scene," Mr Trimble says. "For a lot of people in town -- addicts, recovering alcoholics etc --- it's unsafe to go to a hotel."
Mental health folk, families and "heaps of single parents" also attend the meals and for a large percentage it's the main meal they eat all week.
"It's somewhere they can take the kids and still go out and enjoy themselves. They meet other people walking a similar journey and encourage each other. It's neat to see them strike up friendships outside of here."
Retired pensioner and former chef Harry Vazey is in charge of the meal preparation, but says he has a lot of help. Some of the regular patrons help out in the kitchen and in turn learn daily living skills. Volunteers, often the same faces, serve the meals and clean up each week and local businesses and church groups donate funds and food, or sell it at cost. "It's the community working together," Mr Trimble says.
As with any restaurant some nights are busier than others.
"One night we'd planned for 70 and ended up with 90," Mrs Trimble laughs.
"It was horrendous, but like the loaves and the fishes, the food just kept coming."
The Trimbles have lugged a lifetime of caring and community experience with them to Waihi.
In Tauranga they were directors of Recovery Fellowship, chaplains to employment plus --- something they have continued with in Waihi --- and managers of emergency accommodation.
Elvyn was also facilitator of the spiritual 12 steps programme - similar to AA but from a spiritual perspective.
And although their hearts are laced with gold, they're not heavy.
The rewards are simple Mr Trimble says.
"Seeing people change for the better; seeing them able to stand up and be proud of who they are. Seeing people accept themselves and feel good about themselves."

Brethren Church Allegations

2007-04-20T10:09:00.000+12:00

Stuff
April 20 2007

Brethren member investigated over abuse claims
NZPA

A senior member of the Exclusive Brethren Church in New Zealand is under police investigation for allegedly molesting children over four decades, TV One News reported last night.
The network said that after a six-month investigation it could reveal four women had laid complaints, claiming they were abused by the man when they were aged between five and 10.
The report said the church's Australia-based spokesman, Tony McCorkell, was in New Zealand to investigate the claims himself – although he was not willing to admit that.
Mr McCorkell arrived on Tuesday, announcing his presence and answering media questions about the latest row over political involvement by Brethren members.
Asked by reporter Ben Tornquist what the church was doing about the sexual abuse allegations, he replied: "I'm not aware of that. If you have evidence of that I'd be glad to see it."
Mr McCorkell said the church would never try to cover up such allegations.
But TV One News said two of the women, former members of the sect, had told church leaders about the abuse at the time it happened and were ignored.
One woman, who was not identified, said in an interview with Tornquist she believed there had been "multiple offenders".
"If I went and asked them now they would try and deny it because in there it's a huge guilt and fear thing," she said.
"A lot of people who perhaps have been involved in that sort of thing would not go outside the church for help."
Tornquist reported that the complainants believed children could have been molested as recently as last year.
He said the women had not known of each other's cases until recently, and came forward following previous TV One reports of sexual abuse

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Three News
April 20 2007; 06:20

Exclusive Brethren deny child abuse claims

The Exclusive Brethren says New Zealand police have been unable to confirm allegations of child abuse made by One News last night.
The news report says four women had laid complaints, claiming they were abused by the man when they were aged between five and 10.
It also alleges the current world leader of the sect Bruce Hales knows of the abuse and has failed to act.
Exclusive Brethren spokesman Tony McCorkell says he has been unable to find any evidence to back up the allegations.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One News
April 19 2007

Brethren molestation claims

A senior member of the Exclusive Brethren church is under police investigation after allegedly molesting children over four decades.
After a six-month ONE News investigation, it has been revealed that four women, all former members of the church, laid complaints against the man, claiming they were abused when they were aged between five and 10.
The alleged abuse stretches back decades. The eldest complainant is now 61 years old, and the youngest in her mid 20s.
The church's Australia-based spokesman Tony McCorkell has been in New Zealand this week, reportedly investigating the claims himself, although he has not admitted that this is the purpose of his visit.
"If there is a claim then the church has a moral and a legal, maybe,...obligation to look at it depending on the circumstances, but certainly the church wouldn't seek to cover that situation up," says McCorkell
McCorkell says the Exclusive Brethren takes sexual abuse claims seriously. However, it is understood that two of the women who spoke-out when they were abused were ignored by New Zealand church leaders.
ONE News has been told the current world leader of the sect Bruce Hales also knows, but has failed to act - although McCorkell does not believe Hales is, in fact, aware.
"I think that Exclusive Brethren would deal with it like any other responsible citizen would. I mean the church would abhor any situation where child abuse was covered up," says McCorkell.
McCorkell also says he is not aware that the claims were covered up by leaders in the church.
"I don't have any information to that effect. But if that information comes to light then the church would obviously deal with that," he says.
The four women now live in different parts of the country and were unaware of each other's cases until recently. They came forward following previous revelations on ONE News that the church covered-up sexual abuse over several decades.
"I would say there's multiple offenders. If I went and asked them now they would try and deny it because in there it's a huge fear and guilt thing," says former Exclusive Brethren member known as Philippa.
"Perhaps a lot of people in there who have got this problem and been involved in this sort of thing would not go outside of the church for help".
The Exclusive Brethren says it will not act on rumours and says it wants names so it can deal with the matter.
Police are yet to speak with the accused but suspect many more victims may come forward.

One News
October 10 2006

Brethren victims urged to complain

Prime Minister Helen Clark says she is concerned about claims of sexual abuse within the Exclusive Brethren Church and is urging victims to go to the police.
A former church member has revealed to One News how the abuse was covered up for several decades.
The Exclusive Brethren Church sets its own rules and deals with those who break them in its own way.
But claims some teenagers and children were sexually abused by other church members has caused alarm at the highest levels .
"It's important that sexual predators are brought to justice," Clark says. "I'm always concerned by claims of sexual abuse and cover-ups of it."
Philippa, a former member of the church, says that abuse was occurring up until nine years ago.
And she is not the only one.
One News has spoken to a former member who says he was abused as a child. He doesn't want to dredge up his past, but does want to confirm that what Philippa told One News, about abuse within the Exclusive Brethren, is true.
Police say they will only investigate claims if a complaint is laid.
Police Minister Annette King says she understands there could be some sensitivities, but nobody in any organisation is above the law.
"And if people have issues they ought to go to the police, I'm urging them to go to the police."
It is not just abuse they may be interested in.
Like the former head of the church in Australia, Philippa says she once carried large sums of money overseas.
"I was handed five or six envelopes just a couple of nights before I left and told these were gifts for various men. I do recall feeling slightly uncomfortable. I didn't carry them in my handbag, I stuffed them in between my clothes," she says.
She doesn't deny what she did was illegal.
Right now though, it is sexual abuse allegations police want to know about

One News
October 9 2006

Brethren accused of child sex abuse

A woman who fled the Exclusive Brethren church says she is aware of multiple cases of child sex abuse, which were covered up by the religious sect.
Phillipa, who prefers not to give her family name, says the acts took place over several decades and the victims were mainly teenage boys.
She is now prepared to co-operate with any police investigation.
Philippa was encouraged to live her life by The Bible for 40 years, but the former Exclusive Brethren member says when it came to morality, the sect was anything but an open book.
She says sexual abuse by teenagers with other teenage males and children was dealt with by the church underground.
"If it was covered up back then, it's probably still covered up today," she says.
"In the particular place where I lived there was a huge amount of sodomy amongst the teenage boys etcetera. And that's one of the reasons why I've shifted my family away from that area where we used to live."
Philippa left the Exclusive Brethren with her seven children six years ago. She says the abuse was occurring up until nine years ago.
She wants to speak out, because it is something the victims of abuse struggle to do.
"You definitely wouldn't want to tell anybody, 'cause then everybody would know about you and you would be looked upon as the bad person because you spoke out."
She says she is not talking about isolated incidents.
"I would say there's multiple offenders. If I asked them now they would try and deny it because in there is a huge fear and guilt thing and perhaps a lot of people in there who have got this problem and involved in this sort of thing, would not go outside of the church for help. A lot of these people need help."
She says she knows names of offenders but hadn't really thought about going to the police.
"It's hard for me to. I know this doesn't sound good but those things, they were just sort of part of life and things that happened."
Philippa says the victims would now be in their twenties, thirties and forties and all remain in the church.
Her claims have an echo across the Tasman.
Joy Nason a former Exclusive Brethren member told the ABC she has heard people confess to molesting children.
She said those acts were "definitely not" reported to the police.
"No they were forgiven. If the person was sorry, if the person showed enough contrition, the Brethren forgave them."
No New Zealand Exclusive Brethren members contacted by One News were prepared to comment on Philippa's claims.
But she has given One News the names of seven men she says were involved in acts of sexual abuse and is now prepared to co-operate with any police investigation.