New Zealand’s former deputy police commissioner yesterday lost the right to anonymity after he was charged with possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material.
Jevon McSkimming was arrested in June and charged with eight counts of possessing objectionable material, but the courts had prevented media from reporting his name or other details of the case.
Appearing in Wellington District Court yesterday, McSkimming opted not to seek an extension of the suppression order.
Photo: AFP
His lawyer, Letizea Ord, told Judge Tim Black “there is not a further application in respect of name suppression. It’s accepted that it can lapse today.”
He had yet to enter a plea.
Asked as he left court if he had a message for the public, McSkimming said: “No.”
McSkimming was suspended on full pay in December last year when an investigation into his conduct was launched.
Details of those allegations cannot be reported.
He was on leave for six months before his resignation in May.
Black remanded McSkimming on bail and he is to reappear before the court in November.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has refused to speak to the media, other than a statement in May acknowledging McSkimming’s resignation.
Chambers beat McSkimming to win the police commissioner role in November last year. A month later, McSkimming was put on leave.
In an e-mail last month to police staff, reported by Radio New Zealand, Chambers said he was aware people felt “angry and feel let down.”
“I feel the same,” Chambers said.
New Zealand Minister of Police Mark Mitchell has also declined to comment on the case.
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