Gag lifted in Exclusive Brethren Church sex case

Nelson Mail

IDENTITY REVEALED: Clive Allen Petrie leaves the Nelson Courthouse on Tuesday.

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Name suppression of a former Nelson Exclusive Brethren Church member facing historic sex charges has been lifted, despite defence claims the complaint was orchestrated.

Clive Allen Petrie, 72, of Nelson, faces seven representative charges of indecently assaulting four girls between 1951 and 1985.

Defence counsel Hamish Riddoch sought continuation of name suppression in the High Court in Nelson yesterday on the basis of his client's age, fragile health, presumed innocence, the historic nature of the charges and an application to have the charges dismissed.

He told the court the charges against his client had been orchestrated by an informant who was crusading against the Exclusive Brethren Church.

The informant had swayed the women into laying complaints to police in April by telling them that any alleged abuse might be continuing.

Riddoch claimed the informant had also leaked information to the media.

However, in summing up, Justice Wild said police were aware of the informant's existence and the officer in charge of the case had spoken to him.

Police believed the informant had done nothing more then encourage the women to come forward.

"As police are aware, and have laid charges, I do not consider it is a factor of any significance," the judge said.

The open process of court proceedings, and the belief by police that the publication of Petrie's name may lead to more complainants coming forward, favoured the lifting of his name suppression, he said.

Exclusive Brethren spokesman Tony McCorkell said he did not want to speculate on the role of any alleged informant in the case. Sexual abuse was abhorrent to the Church and such cases needed to be dealt with by police.

"We trust Mr Petrie will get a fair trial and are mindful of the alleged victims and Mr Petrie's own family through the process," McCorkell said.

- © Fairfax NZ News