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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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The rape and indecency trial of
former Salvation Army captain John Francis Gainsford was adjourned
unexpectedly yesterday. The trial was to resume in the
High Court in Timaru at 11am, but was delayed until 2.15pm for what Craig
O'Connor, for the Crown, called procedural matters. At 2.15pm Crown prosecutor Tim
Gresson said the trial had been adjourned to 11am today. No explanation was given but
Gresson later held talks with Detective Tracey Miron, the officer in charge
of the case. The jury was not called into court at all yesterday. On Monday, Gainsford, 69, of
Auckland, pleaded guilty to four indecency counts relating to his time as
manager of the Bramwell Booth children's home at Temuka in South Canterbury. He pleaded not guilty to a further
23 counts, including three of rape and 10 of indecently assaulting girls
under 12. Eight complainants, seven females
and a male, were to give evidence but just some of the evidence of one
complainant has been heard. The charges relate to Gainsford's
time as manager of the children's home in the 1970s. He left the home after
allegations of sexual misconduct. The facility on the edge of Temuka is no
longer used as a children's home. Miron, in evidence on Monday, said
she sought records from the Salvation Army of meetings it had with Gainsford,
but some documentation was missing.
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