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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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The jury at the trial of a former
Salvation Army captain has retired to consider its verdict in Timaru. John Gainsford is defending 23 sex
abuse charges dating back to his time as the manager of the Bramwell Booth
Salvation Army Children's Home in Temuka in the 1970s. Eight complainants have given
evidence against the 69-year-old throughout the two week trial. On Friday morning the judge summed
up the case and provided the jury with a spreadsheet to help them work
through their decision making process. Gainsford has already pleaded
guilty to four charges. The defence argued the remaining
charges stem from "girl-talk" at the school at the time and are
unreliable and exaggerated. But the Crown stated that it cannot all be
made up. |
