The Southland Times
November 21 2007

City teacher charged

An Invercargill primary school teacher is facing charges of performing indecent acts on two boys.

Paul Alexander Conner, a teacher at New River Primary School In Elizabeth St and also the president of the Southland Greyhound Racing Club, faces five charges of performing indecent acts on the boys at Invercargill between December 2005 and October this year.

Conner appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday and was remanded for a predepositions hearing on December 7.

Conner had earlier been granted interim name suppression. However, that order was cancelled yesterday by Judge Kevin Phillips.

The Southland Times went to Conner's house seeking comment yesterday afternoon but a family member said the teacher was not at home.

The family member rang Conner and asked him if he would like to comment but Conner declined.

New River Primary School principal Elaine McCambridge did not return calls yesterday.

However, board of trustees spokesman Simon Ayto later issued a press release saying the alleged incidents did not occur in the school environment.

Conner first appeared in the Invercargill District Court on October 24, and details of the case were suppressed by the judge at that time.

His second appearance was on November 6, when he was further remanded on bail without plea until yesterday's court appearance.