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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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A former
primary school principal was never told of abuse allegations against one of
her staff, a Wellington District Court jury has heard. The Crown has alleged
the teacher, 43, twice raped a pupil, 7, during a break and in a small office
in his classroom, indecently touched her, and kicked her and pushed a couch
over her feet. He has denied two
charges of sexual violation by rape, one of indecent assault and two of
assault of a seven-year-old student in 1996. The girl's mother said
she told the then-principal of her daughter being kicked, but the woman told
the jury: "I can't remember it at all. It would have been so unique it
would have stayed in my mind." The defendant was a
popular and loved teacher. She would have been
horrified to hear if he ever physically hurt a child. She could recall a
meeting at which the girl's mother had been worried because the complainant
was lonely and unhappy at the school and had not made friends. The former principal
said she agreed the girl was intelligent and creative, but an observer. She remembered the girl
leaving the school, but thought it was because the mother wanted the girl to
have a fresh start. She said any allegation
as serious as assault would have required the principal to go to the school
board. A former school
caretaker said it would be impossible for something like a rape to take place
in the corridor behind the teacher's classroom. "It was one of the
busiest places in the school, kids all over the place." The trial is due to
finish today. |
