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Waikato Times The high-society Stewart family of
Christchurch is standing staunchly by Peter Maxwell Stewart, who has been
named as the prominent Canterbury man found guilty of historical sex-abuse
charges. Stewart, 62, the son of
Christchurch plastics magnate Sir Robertson Stewart, who died in August, is
married to the owner and managing director of New Zealand Fashion Week,
Pieter Stewart. They have four adult children. The wider Stewart family, now led
by Adrienne, Lady Stewart, has played a major role in Christchurch affairs
and is a generous benefactor of many causes, including the arts and Christ
Church Cathedral. Although the Stewart family was
not making an official comment yesterday, a close friend of the family, who
spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that family and friends of Peter
and Pieter Stewart would "stick by them through thick and thin". "He is a kind, very
thoughtful man. It's just insane." The Stewarts were devastated about
having the family name dragged through the mud but were determined to fight
on, she said. Another family contact confirmed
Pieter Stewart would continue to wholeheartedly support her husband. Her New Zealand Fashion Week
business is heavily dependent on sponsors and is expected to be vulnerable to
bad publicity. However, main sponsor Air New Zealand said yesterday it
remained committed to its sponsorship. A public relations consultant
close to Christchurch's network of movers and shakers said the Stewarts were
a powerful but down-to- earth family who had done a great deal for the city.
She had detected no "malicious glee" over their predicament. "People genuinely feel a deep
sadness about the whole thing. The Stewart family have a good reputation and
people don't want to see it tarnished because of this," she said. Members of the complainant's
family, including her brother and her elderly mother, were in court to see
the suppression lifted yesterday, but declined to comment. "Maybe in a
few weeks," a spokesman said. The complainant cannot be
identified but she was closely involved with the Stewart family from a young
age. Facing a jail sentence of about
four years, Stewart will be home for Christmas. Justice Panckhurst in the High
Court in Christchurch yesterday remanded Stewart on bail to February 12 for
sentencing and directed the preparation of a reparation report if counsel
thought it was warranted. Counsel for Stewart, Jonathan
Eaton, told the court he was not seeking permanent suppression of Stewart's
name because it was now well-known Stewart was the "so-called prominent
Canterbury man" convicted of sex charges. Mr Eaton did not pursue a
previous argument that publication of Stewart's name would impact on other
Stewart business interests. Stewart was found guilty on
December 7 by a jury on one charge of sodomy, one of rape, three of indecent
assault and two of inducing an indecent act. He was acquitted on five other
charges, and three charges were dropped during the trial. The complainant alleged the
offending, between 1967 and 1978, had started when she was eight and
continued until her late teens. - The Press |