The Southland Times
December 19 2007

Teacher faces trial on sex charges

An Invercargill primary school teacher accused of performing indecent acts on two boys will stand trial in the Invercargill District Court next year after his lawyer yesterday conceded he had a case to answer.

Paul Alexander Conner, 41, a teacher at New River School and also the president of the Southland Greyhound Racing Club, He faces four charges of performing indecent acts on one boy at Invercargill between December 2005 and October this year. Police also allege Conner committed an indecent act on a second boy at Invercargill early this year.

Conner appeared in the court for a depositions hearing yesterday when police handed documented evidence against him to justices of the peace Fraser Clark and Pat Veltkamp-Smith. No verbal evidence was given in the court.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Ian Temple said during the 10-minute hearing the evidence included a video-taped interview with Conner and a transcript of that interview.

Conner's lawyer, Phil McDonald, conceded his client had a case to answer.

Mr Clark told Conner the court proposed to commit him for trial.

He gave Conner the option of pleading guilty but Conner said no.

He was remanded on bail until March 27 for a pre-trial hearing.

Conner's bail conditions prohibit him from associating with the alleged victims and their families in any way, including by text.

Conner first appeared on October 24 when details of the case were suppressed by the judge. A pre-depositions hearing on December 7 was followed by yesterday's depositions hearing.

A New River School spokesman said last month the alleged assaults did not occur in the school environment and Conner had taken leave from the school.