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NZ Herald Allegations of child sexual abuse
against a prominent Canterbury man, dating back more than 30 years, went
before a depositions hearing in Christchurch District Court yesterday. Little can be published of the
hearing, at which four Crown witnesses gave evidence. The statements of two
other witnesses were handed in written form to Judge John Bisphan. The accused, 61, has suppression
of his name and all references to his occupation or business. The courts have also banned
publication of the locations where the sexual abuse is alleged to have taken
place. A series of other details have
been suppressed and Judge Bisphan imposed a further order yesterday stopping
publication of part of the evidence from two childhood friends of the
complainant. Crown prosecutor Jane Farish said
the case - in which the accused faces seven charges - concerned abuse of a
girl from the age of about seven until she was 16. Cross-examined by defence counsel
Jonathan Eaton, a childhood friend of the complainant said she had never
formed the view that the complainant had been infatuated by the man. Nor did
she say anything about seeking compensation from the accused. Another childhood friend recalled
an incident when he was aged 10 to 12, when the complainant told him that the
accused had asked her to get into bed with him and they had touched each
other. Another close friend from teenage
years told the court that the complainant had told her about touching, oral
sex, and "sexual activity". Each time it happened she would hear
about it. She told Ms Farish she was shocked
by it but the complainant "seemed really happy, she seemed really in
love". "From what I understood, it
may not be right, but my girlfriend's being loved and she's happy, so she's
not in danger, is she?" The witness said she saw
affectionate contact between the pair, but no intimate contact. In written evidence handed up to
the judge, a high school girlfriend said the complainant had said she was
infatuated with the accused and that they had had sex. The complainant's partner
testified that gave evidence of what happened when she raised her complaint. He said the woman's instruction to
her lawyer to seek compensation from the accused was rescinded when she heard
there was an allegation that she was only trying to get money. The man faces charges of sexual
violation, two of indecent assault on a girl aged under 12, one of indecent
assault on the same girl aged 12 to 16, and three charges of raping the girl
when she was aged 12 to 16. The hearing was adjourned to
February 8 for the judge to consider submissions on whether the complainant
should be required to give depositions evidence in person. |
