Book Recalls 1977 Nightclub Incident (Press, 16 September 1988)
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Summary: Book Recalls 1977 Nightclub Incident (Press, 16 September 1988)
An autobiography by the transsexual performer Carmen, titled "Carmen — My Life from Schoolboy to Successful Businesswoman," has reignited controversy surrounding an incident involving Detective Inspector Ian Hastings and former Cabinet Minister Joe Walding. This controversy originated from a meeting in a nightclub in Auckland in 1977, which was photographed and publicised, purportedly to discredit Walding. In her memoirs, Carmen alleges that the police orchestrated the meeting to embarrass Walding, stating, "I’ll swear to this day that someone did try to set up Mr Walding with a transvestite in Auckland." This claim has raised significant interest, particularly for Hastings, who was involved in relaying the transvestite to the Crypt nightclub where Walding was dining at the time. However, Detective Inspector Hastings has strongly denied any intentional misconduct, insisting there was no orchestrated effort to compromise Walding's reputation. Hastings indicated he would consider reading Carmen's book before deciding on any potential responses to the allegations, but he expressed scepticism about the need to revisit the matter. He mentioned, "Everyone was speculating at the time and people will probably continue to do that... I think anyone trying to stir up mud will find it difficult." He feels he has moved past the incident and noted that an inquiry into the situation by senior magistrate J. A. Wicks concluded there was no evidence of a political conspiracy or premeditated setup. In 1977, Hastings, then a detective senior-sergeant, faced disciplinary actions and was fined $40 after being found guilty of conduct that brought discredit to the police. However, the inquiry led by Wicks clarified that a series of accidents and coincidences had caused the incident, dismissing any notions of deliberate mischief. The revival of these allegations in 1988 has drawn attention back to a case that has lingered in the public consciousness for over a decade, as Detective Inspector Hastings continues to assert his innocence in a matter he considers resolved.
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