|
This page last
updated Nov 1 2006
Discussion
of the case and of the history of abuse
Gainsford was
initially transferred from Bramwell Booth when allegations were made. He was
asked to leave later because of ongoing issues.
2006-1101 - Timaru Herald -
Gainsford was asked to leave Sally Arm
2006-1101 - The Press -
Salvationist's sordid secrets
Complainant
at trial calls for Inquiry
One of the eight
complainants at the trial is aclling for an inquiry into the way Salvation
Army homes were run. She believes abuse was "rampant". She is
supported by Jan Lowe, spokeswoman for the Salvation Army Abuse Survivors
Group.
2006-1101 - The Press - Group joins call
for abuse probe
2006-1031 - Timaru Herald -
Sex victim wants inquiry
Unexpected
complainant at trial gives her story
Christina Cullen
was a teenager at Bramwell Booth in the 1970s and reported stories of sexual
abuse told to her by younger girls
2006-1031 - The Press - 'You can't
walk away from abuse'
2006-1031 - Timaru Herald -
Witness sees speaking up as duty
Abuse
Victims seek redress
One victim says she and other victims will take action against the Salvation
Army. She said justice had been done against Gainsford but the Salvation Army
was also culpable, failing in its duty to protect the children and ignoring
their complaints of his sexual abuse. The Salvation Army admits it should
have acted differently over allegations of child sex abuse against a former
staff member. Major Ross Gower says that the understanding of child abuse and
inappropriate behaviour at the time was not as good as it is today.
2006-1030 - Timaru Herald - Sex
victims seek redress
2006-1030 - The Press -
Payout to victims admitted
2006-1029 - NZ Herald - Children's
home abuse victims plan next move
2006-1028 - Radio NZ - Victim says
conviction on 22 sex charges better than expected
2006-1028 - Radio NZ - Sex
abuse victims to act against Salvation Army
2006-1028 - Radio NZ -
Salvation Army admits it should have acted over sex offending
Salvation
Army pays compensation and invites further Complainants
The Salvation Army has already paid out compensation for the sexual abuse
suffered at Bramwell Booth. The Salvation Army will not divulge details, but
will permit those receiving compensation to do so if they wish. Spokesman
Major Ross Gower has said that 50 people have now come forward claiming
abuse, and compensation has been discussed.
He invited any further complainants to make contact. He hoped the
guilty verdicts would allow complainants to put some of the
"horrendous" things that had happened behind them.
2006-1028 - Timaru Herald -
Salvation Army pays compo to sex assault victims
2006-1028 - Newstalk ZB - More
victims emerge
Gainsford
found guilty
Jury returned 22
guilty verdicts out of 23 charges. Gainsford had earlier admitted four
charges. Major Ross Gower says the Sallies have already expressed sympathy to
the victims. Gainsford was remanded in custody for sentencing Dec 11.
2006-1028 - One News - Salvation Army
Captain found guilty
2006-1028 - Timaru Herald
- Gainsford found guilty
2006-1028 - Stuff - Gainsford
found guilty on 22 charges
2006-1028 - Newstalk ZB -
Former Sallies captain found guilty
Summing
Up
Defence lawyer Paul Dacre said
some of the complaints defied logic. In particular was one complainant's
evidence that Gainsford had put the child's hand over his penis while on a
bus full of children. He also said the evidence of a male complainant who
alleged he had been assaulted by Gainsford was quite outrageous as it would
have had to have occurred on a Saturday morning and in a public area of the
home. the complaint could not be credible. "It could not have happened
without people hearing. It was monstrous activity which simply can not have
been correct
Prosecutor Tim Gresson stated that
it cannot all be made up. The actions of the manager at the Bramwell Booth
home in the early 1970s had been a very serious breach of trust. The homeless
children were particularly vulnerable. He suggested Gainsford had tailored his
evidence to touching only, to minimise his blame. Some of the evidence was so
detailed that even the wildest imagination couldn't have come up with it, he
said. Mr Gresson told the jury they could be certain of Gainsford's guilt, as
the evidence was just overwhelming.
Justice Fogarty warned the jury
that just because Gainsford had pleaded guilty to four charges they could not
assume he was guilty of them all. While there was no suggestion the
complainants had concocted a story to make false allegations, they had been
very young girls and had talked about what was going on. He advised the jury
to watch for "borrowed recollections", asking whether the
complainants could have got their memories from "girl talk"
involving those who Gainsford had admitted indecencies with.
2006-1028 - Timaru Herald -
Salvation Army pays compo to sex assault victims
2006-1028 - Timaru Herald
- Gainsford found guilty
2006-1027 - Timaru Herald - Sex
acts 'breach of trust'
2006-1027 - One News -
Jury considering sex abuse verdict
2006-1027 - One News - Judge to
sum up in sex abuse trial
2006-1027 - Newstalk ZB
- Sallie jury retires to consider verdict
2006-1027 - Newstalk ZB - Jury
due to retire in Sallie abuse case
Gainsford
denies charges
Gainsford holds
fast to denials of alleged sex acts. He insisted that while he was not
accusing the eight complainants and other witnesses of lying, he was adamant
they were mistaken in what they had told the court relating to his alleged
offending. As to why his version of events was so different from the
witnesses, Gainsford said : I think they actually believe at this point in
time what they are saying. I'm simply saying that it did not occur.
2006-1027 - Timaru Herald - Sex
acts 'breach of trust'
2006-1026 - Timaru Herald
- Defendant firm on denials
2006-1026 - Stuff - Former
Salvation Army Man takes stand
NZPA - Gainsford's counsel, Paul Dacre, told the jury the accused had behaved
badly toward some of the children and he acknowledged that with the four guilty
pleas (to three charges of indecent assault on a girl aged under 12 and a
charge of inducing a girl then aged 12 to do an indecent act on him).
Gainsford's responses to all the remaining 23 indecency and rape charges were
all similar, stating simply "no" when asked if he could recall the
incident, or stating "it did not" (happen).
2006-1025 - Timaru Herald -
Woman thought Gainsford imprisoned
by Herald Staff - A woman only complained of sexual abuse at the Salvation
Army's Bramwell Booth Children's Home two years ago, as prior to that she
thought the alleged abuser was in prison. The woman was giving evidence in
the High Court in Timaru yesterday at the trial of former Salvation Army
captain John Gainsford, 69, on 23 indecency and rape charges.
2006-1025 - The Press -
Indecent acts 'almost daily'
by John Keast - A woman who complained to police about former Salvation Army
captain John Gainsford says he touched her indecently almost daily. She told
the High Court in Timaru yesterday that Gainsford's offending got worse over
her time at the former Bramwell Booth children's home in Temuka, South
Canterbury, and it was a "nice reprieve if he left me alone for a
bit". After each incident, she said, he told her she was a good girl
2006-1021 - Timaru
Herald - Complainant says she was ignored by Salvation Army
NZPA - A former resident of the Salvation Army's Bramwell Booth Home is so
angry with the organisation's handling of complaints against a former manager
that she will not support it in any way. Giving evidence in the High Court at
Timaru yesterday, she said children at the home learned there wasn't any
point in telling anyone about how they were being abused because they weren't
believed, and no one did anything to stop it. She attended a reunion at
Bramwell Booth in the 1980s and tried to tell Salvationists there about her
experiences, but said she was shut down
2006-1021 - The Press -
Witness adamant rape occurred
by John Keast - 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
2006-1020 - Timaru Herald -
Court report brought back memories
A former Temuka woman who said she saw a Salvation Army officer indecently
touching a young girl 30 years ago only learned he was being prosecuted when
she read an on-line copy of the Herald three days ago. It was by chance she
saw a story about John Francis Gainsford's trial on Tuesday morning, but
Christina Cullen (nee Adams) was so concerned when she realised the accused
was the same person involved in an incident she had witnessed that she
immediately contacted police
2006-1020 - Timaru Herald -
'Church leader told girls were abused'
When staff at the Salvation Army's Bramwell Booth Children's Home wouldn't
believe that children were being sexually abused by the manager, one girl
opted to tell a visiting church leader. Then other church officers asked her
about the allegations and shortly after the manager left the Temuka home, the
High Court in Timaru heard yesterday.
She told the court how Gainsford had indecently touched her while he
was lying on her bed reading stories. When he slid his hand under the covers
she tried to move away from him, but he simply moved his hand further down.
2006-1020 - The Press -
Surprise witness tells of seeing abuse
A surprise witness sobbed in the High Court in Timaru as she recounted seeing
former Salvation Army captain John Gainsford fondling a girl while giving her
a piggy-back ride. Christina Cullen, who contacted police on Tuesday after
seeing publicity about the Gainsford case, said she was metres from Gainsford
as he fondled the girl while talking to a woman. She said the woman would not
have seen what Gainsford was doing. Cullen said she was shocked by what she
saw and her stomach knotted.
2006-1019 - Newstalk ZB -
Surprise witness in child abuse case
Media coverage over a child sex abuse case in Timaru has prompted a woman to
travel down from Taranaki to give evidence. The trial of John Gainsford, for
historical sex offences at the Bramwell Booth Salvation Army Children's Home
in the 70s, is into its fourth day. Today was marked by the evidence of a surprise
new witness. Christina Cullen from Hawera told the court after seeing
coverage of the case online she decided to travel down to testify.
2006-1019 - The Press -
Gainsford 'asked boy to pray then committed indecency'
by John Keast - Former Salvation Army captain John Gainsford asked a boy to
pray with him and then committed an indecency, it was alleged in the High
Court in Timaru yesterday. The complainant, who cannot be identified, said he
was then sick and Gainsford was angry, saying: "Look at the bloody mess
you made." Gainsford, 69, of Auckland, has denied 23 indecency and rape
charges relating to his time as manager of the Bramwell Booth children's home
near Temuka in South Canterbury.
2006-1019 - Timaru
Herald - Complainants tell court of sexual abuse
by Claire Haren - Former Salvation Army captain John Gainsford asked an
11-year-old boy to pray with him, and then, with one hand on the back of his
head, made the boy perform oral sex, the High Court at Timaru heard
yesterday. The complainant said he then vomited over the carpet, Gainsford's
trousers and shoes, and Gainsford became angry, saying "look at the
bloody mess you've made", and insisted the boy clean it up.
2006-1018 - Timaru Herald
- Gainsford case adjourned for a day
by Rhonda Markby - The trial of a former Salvation Army officer on a variety
of historical sexual abuse charges was adjourned for a day yesterday for what
was being described as procedural matters......... Opening the crown case on
Monday, Tim Gresson told the court he planned to call all eight complainants.
Also on his witness list was Gainsford's former wife. The couple separated in
the mid 1980s. The only witness to have completed her evidence so far is
officer in charge of the case Detective Tracey Miron.
2006-1018 - The Press -
Children's home rape, indecency trial adjourns
by John Keast - 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.
2006-1018 - Radio NZ - Sally
witness
Witnesses in an historic sex abuse trial have told the high court in Timaru
they saw a former Salvation Army captain in compromising positions with
children.
2006-1018 - Radio NZ -
Gainsford expected to testify
An ex-Salvation Army Officer is expected to testify in his own defence at the
High Court in Timaru to counter claims that he sexually abused six girls and
one boy during the 1970s.... The first complainant to give evidence told the
jury Mr Gainsford touched her indecently during piggy back rides. But
Gainsford's lawyer Paul Dacre said his client will give evidence that she was
too heavy for piggy back rides and that he never indecently touched or raped
her
2006-1018 - One News - Sex abuse
trial resumes
No reason has been given as to why the trial of a former Salvation Army
captain on historical sexual abuse charges was adjourned. John Gainsford is
being tried in Timaru on sexual abuse charges from the time he worked at the
Bramwell Booth Salvation Army Children's Home in the 1970s
2006-1018 - Newstalk ZB - No
reason given for trial adjournment
No reason has been given as to why the trial of a former Salvation Army
captain on historical sexual abuse charges was adjourned.
2006-1017 - One News -
Witness testimony at sex abuse trial
The Crown embarked on the second day of witness testimony on Tuesday in the
trial of a former Salvation Army captain on historical sexual abuse charges
2006-1017 - Waikato Times
- Salvation Army man on trial
A former Salvation Army officer pleaded not guilty to 23 indecency and rape
charges in the High Court at Timaru yesterday. But at the start of his trial,
John Francis Gainsford, 69, of Auckland, pleaded guilty to a further four
charges.
2006-1017 - Timaru
Herald - Complainant tells court of attacks
The first of the eight complainants began her evidence yesterday, telling the
court how Gainsford disappeared from the home after she told another girl
what he had been doing to her. She told the court how he would check her for
appendicitis -- checking her stomach and then her genital area and digitally
penetrating her. He would stop when she complained it hurt. It wasn't until
years later that she found out her appendix was not near her genitals.
2006-1017 -
Timaru Herald - Salvation Army documents go missing
All records of a meeting between the Salvation Army and its officer accused
of indecencies with children, were missing from a bound minute book. Giving
evidence in an historic sex abuse trial in the High Court at Timaru yesterday,
Detective Tracey Miron of the Timaru CIB said minutes of meetings around the
time John Francis Gainsford had been called to a meeting in Wellington, were
missing from the bound minute book of the army's advisory board.
2006-1017 - Timaru Herald -
Former Temuka man on trial for 23 sex charges
by Rhonda Markby - A litany of sex charges is what a former Salvation Army
captain has been brought back to Timaru to face. A former Salvation Army
officer pleaded not guilty to 23 indecency and rape charges in the High Court
at Timaru yesterday. But at the start of his trial, John Francis Gainsford,
69, of Auckland, pleaded guilty to a further four charges (three of indecent
assault on a girl aged under 12, and inducing a girl then aged under 12 to do
an indecent act on him) when he appeared before Justice Fogarty and a jury of
three men and nine women.
2006-1017 - The Press -
Ex-Salvation Army man faces sex charges
Bramwell Booth Home, Temuka
by John
Keast - A former Salvation Army captain who managed a
children's home in South Canterbury has admitted four sex-abuse charges but
denied 23 others. John Francis Gainsford, 69, of Auckland, pleaded guilty in
the High Court in Timaru yesterday to three counts of indecently assaulting
girls aged under 12 and one of inducing a girl under 12 to perform an
indecent act. The charges are representative.
2006-1017 - Dominion Post -
Sex charges admitted
A former Salvation Army captain has pleaded guilty to four indecent assault
charges at a trial at the High Court in Timaru. John Francis Gainsford, 69,
of Auckland is facing sex charges dating back to the 1970s
2006-1016 - Radio NZ -
Similarities in cases
The crown in the trial of a former Salvation army captain has told the jury
there are similarities in the alleged cases of historic sexual offending.
2006-1016 - Radio NZ - Former
Salvation Army captain admits 4 indecency charges
A former Salvation Army captain on trial for alleged sex offences in the
1970s has entered guilty pleas to four charges. John Francis Gainsford, 69,
faced a total of twenty-seven charges ranging from indecent assault to rape
in relation to eight complainants. At the start of his trial at the High
Court in Timaru, he pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault, and
one of inducing an indecent act, relating to three complainants
2006-1016 - One News -
Former Sallies captain on trial
 A former Salvation Army captain
has gone on trial in Timaru for historic sex abuse. While John Gainsford, 69,
has admitted assaulting some students in his care in the 1970s, he is
defending most of the charges he is up against. And at the start of the
hearing, he entered guilty pleas to four counts of indecent assault on two
girls. But he is denying 23 charges of rape, attempted rape and violation of
another six former pupils.
John Gainsford
2006-1016 - One News - Former
Sallies captain admits charges
A former Salvation Army captain who is on trial at Timaru High Court for
historical sex abuse charges, has admitted four offences. The charges arise
from the time John Gainsford worked as the manager of Bramwell Booth
Salvation Army Children's Home in Temuka
Justice Fogarty
2006-1016 - NZ Herald -
Ex-Salvation Army captain admits four child sex charges
NZPA - A former Salvation Army captain has admitted four charges of sexual
assault on children. John Francis
Gainsford went on trial at the High Court at Timaru this morning on a range
of sex charges involving young people dating back to the 1970s.
2006-1016 - Newstalk ZB -
Salvation Army man admits sex charges
A former Salvation Army Captain who is on trial in the High Court in Timaru
on historical sex abuse charges has admitted four offences. The charges arise
from the time John Gainsford worked as the manager of Bramwell Booth
Salvation Army Children's Home in Temuka. The 69-year old faces a total of 27
charges including rape, sexual violation and other indecencies against young
people who attended the children's home between 1973 and 1975
2006-0523 - NZ Herald -
Former Salvation Army captain charged with sex abuse
by Jarrod Booker - An elderly Auckland man will stand trial on multiple
sex-abuse charges from his time as manager of a Salvation Army children's
home in the 1970s. John Francis Gainsford, 69, managed the Bramwell Booth
children's home in Temuka, South Canterbury, between January 1973 and January
1975, and allegedly abused seven young people in that time
2006-0523 - Newstalk ZB -
Chaplain on sex abuse charges
Police say there is a possibility more complainants will come forward, now
the name of a former Salvation Army Captain, who is facing sexual violation
charges involving children, has been made public
2006-0523 - Dominion Post -
Sex charges
A former Salvation Army captain is to stand trial on 28 charges of sexual
violation and other indecencies on young people
2006-0522 - One News - Former Sallies
captain on sex charges
A former Salvation Army Captain has been committed to trial on historical sex
charges dating back to the 1970s. Name suppression has been lifted for John
Francis Gainsford, 69, who faces 28 charges of sexual violation and other
indecencies on young people. He will stand trial at the High Court in Timaru
2006-0522 - Radio NZ -
Salvation Army Captain to stand trial on historical sex charges
A former Salvation Army Captain has been committed to trial on historical sex
charges dating back to the 1970s. Name suppression has been lifted for John
Francis Gainsford, 69, who faces 28 charges of sexual violation and other
indecencies on young people. He will stand trial at the High Court in Timaru.
2006-0522 - Newstalk ZB - Court
date for accused Sally
Police say their inquiry into allegations against a former Salvation Army
Captain is continuing. John Gainsford will stand trial in October on 28
counts of sexual violation and indecencies involving young people, which
arise from Gainsford's time as manager of Bramwell Booth Salvation Army
Childrens' Home in Temuka between 1973 and 1975
2006-0520 - Timaru Herald -
Settlements over sexual abuse claims
by Rhonda Markby - The Salvation Army has now settled all but a "very
small handful" of the historical physical and sexual abuse complaints
relating to incidents in its children's homes. Back in August 2003 the church
acknowledged it had received 36 allegations of abuse, including five
complaints from people who had been at the church's Bramwell Booth children's
home at Temuka. Most of the complaints were from people who had lived in Salvation
Army children's homes in Putararu and Masterton and related to incidents in
the 1940s and 1950s, preceding the complaints which have now been made in
relation to the Temuka home
2006-0520 - Timaru Herald -
Salvation Army man on sex charges
by Rhonda Markby - A former Salvation Army officer will face 28 charges of
sexual violation and other indecencies relating to his time as manager of the
Bramwell Booth Salvation Army Childrens Home in Temuka in the 1970s. John
Francis Gainsford, 69, retired, of Auckland, has now been committed for trial
on the charges which have arisen out of alleged offending between January
1973 and January 1975. The seven complainants were all young people living at
the Temuka home
2006-0506 - One News - Historic
abuse claims investigated
Timaru Police are investigating five allegations of historical abuse against
staff at the Salvation Army's Temuka Children's Home. Salvation Army
spokesperson Robin Forsyth says four men and one woman are alleging they were
physically or sexually abused at the Bramwell Booth Childrens Home in the
1970s
|
