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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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A Wellington school
teacher accused of raping a seven-year-old girl 10 years ago, today sought to
keep his identity secret. The 43-year-old man has
been charged with three counts of raping the girl and one of assaulting her
in 1996. His lawyer, Paul Paino,
today asked the High Court at Wellington to continue interim name suppression
until after his trial, set down for June 19. "The decision to
lift name suppression should be made by the judge after trial." The man wanted to
defend the charges, he said. "His case is that he has been falsely
accused." He was currently
employed but had no contact with children, Mr Paino said. "His future
employment prospects would be severely compromised (even) if he was
acquitted." Crown lawyer Claire
Boshier said police opposed the continued suppression of the man's identity. The effect on his
family and employment from the publication of his identity was relevant, she
conceded, but was not extraordinary in such cases. The public had the
right to assess the risk he posed, both before and after the trial.
"This (man) had a lot of contact with children." Justice Alan Mackenzie
reserved his decision. |
