Berliner Tageblatt - New Zealand former top cop charged over material showing child abuse and bestiality

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 on Monday, McSkimming opted not to seek an extension of the suppression order.

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 is yet to enter a plea.

Asked as he left court if he had a message for the public, McSkimming said: "No".

The 52-year-old is alleged to have possessed child exploitation and bestiality material between specific dates.

One of the charges states the offenses happened between July 2020 and December 2024.

McSkimming was suspended from his job on full pay in December 2024, 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.

Judge Black remanded McSkimming on bail, and he will reappear before the court in November.

New Zealand's 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 2024. A month later, McSkimming was put on leave.

In an email 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.

Minister of Police Mark Mitchell has also declined to comment on the case, but has expressed concern about the reputational damage it could cause.

"I hope that the public see through and realise that we have got an outstanding police force, we've got incredible police officers," Mitchell said last month.

"In this case, even though it involves one of our most senior police officers, you've seen that action was taken very quickly to make sure that that public confidence can be maintained."

G.Schulte--BTB