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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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The complainant was giving
evidence on day five of what is expected to be a two-week trial in the High
Court at Timaru of former Salvation Army captain John Gainsford, 69, of
Auckland. Gainsford has admitted four counts
of indecency but denies 23 other indecency and rape counts. The offences are alleged to have
occurred in South Canterbury at the time Gainsford was the manager of the
Salvation Army children's home at Temuka, north of Timaru, in the 1970s. The complainant, one of eight to
give evidence, said she was 100 per cent sure that she was raped at
Gainsford's home, and at a place called the woolwash, near the former
children's home. She said there were also many
instances of indecent touching, two of which Gainsford has admitted. But to a suggestion from
Gainsford's counsel, Paul Dacre, that the rapes did not happen, the witness
said Gainsford could not admit his guilt. She said it was his memory that was
not right, not hers. Dacre said Gainsford – likely to
give evidence on Tuesday – would deny there had been intercourse. The witness said: "He did it
and he knows he did." She said she complained to staff
at the home about the indecent touching and she and another girl acted out
what had happened. But she said there was no point in
telling adults who did not believe what they were told. Evidence from Gainsford's former
wife, who was also in the Salvation Army, was read to the court. She said she
and Gainsford separated in 1985 and he had since remarried. Gainsford, she said, had the main
role in running the home as she was busy with her children. He told her in 1974
that he had been touching some of the children and had to see an army major.
The witness said she was "thunderstruck". The major asked if there had been
penetration and Gainsford said "definitely not". The former wife
said that Gainsford was told that if he moved away and worked with adults the
matter would be dealt with. When police approached Gainsford about the
allegations, he made no comment. The trial is before a jury and
Justice Fogarty. Dacre acts for Gainsford, and Tim Gresson and Craig O'Connor
for the Crown. |
