Vampire sails from scrutiny

Press, 2 February 1982, Page 1

Vampire sails from scrutiny

PA Napier Inquiries into two alleged sexual attacks on Napier women over the week-end were “blatantly obstructed” by the commander of the Australian Navy training ship Vampire, according to the police. The police sought Commander N. B. Taylor’s cooperation in investigating an attempted rape on Napier's Marine Parade on Saturday and an indecent assault on a woman in Seaview Terrace in the early hours of Sunday morning, but Commander Taylor had refused permission for any of his crew to be interviewed.

Detective Sergeant Jim Clews, of the Napier CIB, said Commander Taylor’s attitude had “disgusted him.” The Vampire sailed at 8 a.m. yesterday for Hobart without any further steps being taken in the inquiry. Mr Clews said evidence' on the first incident established

a strong link with crew members of the Vampire. “Commander Taylor flatly refused my request to interview crew members, saying that there was insufficient evidence to warrant an inquiry among the crew. “I am disgusted with his attitude and am satisfied that there is a distinct possibility of finding the woman’s attacker among the crew.” Mr Clews said the woman involved in the first incident had been “viciously assaulted” and that an attempt had been made to rape her. In the second incident, which happened at 12.50 a.m. on Sunday, a young woman was indecently assaulted after a man forced his way into her room. She managed to bite her attacker on the left forearm, and he had run off. Mr Clews said a police dog tracked the man . along Breakwater Road towards the port, but then lost the trail.

NZPA Canberra The Australian Defence Department denied last evening that officers on an Australian destoyer, the Vampire, had refused to cooperate with the New Zealand police over alleged sex attacks at Napier. A Defence Department spokesman said the department had received a long

message from the Vampire outlining the commander’s position. After receiving a description of the attacker from the woman victim the police had asked the ship’s commander to provide a photograph of the entire ship’s company or alternatively ' arrange an identification parade of all the crew. “The commander’s refusal was based on the fact that individual permission, for a photograph or appearance in

an identification parade would need to be Sought from each member of the crew,” said the spokesman. He said the photographs or identification parade would have involved more than 300 crew members. The spokesman said legal advice had been taken before the commander gave his decision to the police. “That legal advice agreed with, the action that was subsequently taken.”