The Southland Times
December 8 2007

Hearing date fixed for teacher's sex charges

An Invercargill school teacher facing five charges of indecently assaulting two young boys, should find out on December 18 whether he is to stand trial on the charges.

Paul Alexander Conner, a teacher at New River Primary School, is accused of indecently assaulting the two boys between December 2005 and October this year. Conner appeared at a pre-depositions hearing in the Invercargill District Court yesterday, after first appearing on October 24 when details of the case were suppressed by the judge.

He was further remanded on bail without plea on November 6, but the suppression was lifted at his appearance on November 20 when he elected trial.

Yesterday's appearance was the pre-cursor to a depositions hearing on December 18, when details of the case are expected to be heard, and statements from witnesses handed up.

The school said last month the alleged assaults did not occur in the school environment and Conner was on leave from the school.

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CAPTION:

Appearance nears: Invercargill school teacher Paul Alexander Conner making his way into the Invercargill District Court for a pre-depositions hearing yesterday.