The woman at the centre of a series of high-profile trials involving police can now look forward to a more normal life.
Louise Nicholas has spent a lot of time in court rooms in the last four years, the most recent case being the trial of former Rotorua CIB chief inspector John Dewar.
Dewar has been convicted of four charges of obstructing the course of justice and Nicholas could finally read in public the speech she has written many times before.
Nerves took over outside the High Court in Hamilton on Wednesday night as Nicholas read her statement.
"My life has been full of injustices. I have lost many battles but with the right will there can be changes to the way we treat victims of sexual offenders so that others don't face the same fate that I and others have faced. Thank you New Zealand," she says.
Fast forward a day to Thursday, and her face says it all as she headed home.
"Giving my mum the hug that she deserves - she couldn't be here with us today - and that's huge."
Dewar staunchly denied allegations he tried to obstruct, prevent or defeat the course of justice.
But the jury delivered guilty verdicts on all four counts, finding Dewar did cover up rape allegations made by Nicholas to protect his police mates Clint Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum.
The jury agreed Dewar manipulated Nicholas and deliberately gave inadmissible evidence at other sex trials.
"It is sinking in. It's taking a wee while but not use to the word guilty, it's always been not guilty," Nicholas says.
Dewar's family and supporters packed the public gallery, but as they poured out of court it was clear the guilty verdicts were not what they expected to hear.
Dewar's wife sobbed as she learnt of her husband's fate and the pair slipped out the back, Dewar bailed until sentencing.
"The result we had prayed for. And we've got that now so it's go home to my mum and my girls and Luke and hopefully normality," Nicholas says.
Nicholas had time for a final farewell hug to the police team who put Dewar before the courts.
"They've restored the faith that I had lost many, many years ago. I just can't speak highly enough of them," says Nicholas.
And she can finally leave them behind and the courts that she has had to battle in for the past four years.
