Allegations of Sexual Abuse
	False Allegations
	John Edgar case
	Waikato Times April 21 1998 Woman tells of saying sorry to accused teacher A woman has told a jury she had apologised to the Hamilton teacher now on trial for committing an indecent act upon her son because she was made to feel her allegations were wrong. The woman, whose name is suppressed to protect her son's identity, gave evidence on the first day of John Timothy Edgar's Hamilton District Court trial yesterday. She said she complained seven years ago, soon after the alleged incident at Hukanui Primary School, but nothing came of it. Edgar, 38, was eventually charged in relation to the accusation last November after other boys made allegations. He is also accused of indecently assaulting six other pupils. His lawyer said he would take the stand to defend the charges. Crown prosecutor David Wilson, QC, presented evidence detailing the alleged offending. Edgar was also described by his former boss, under cross-examination, as a competent teacher with an excellent pupil rapport. Judge Lynton Laing lifted an order suppressing the school's name after finding out it had already been published. The woman said Hukanui principal Colin Muter rang her in 1991 after she complained to a friend who worked at the school that Edgar had looked at her son's penis while he was getting changed. She said Mr Muter and Edgar told her that her son had misinterpreted what happened. Edgar told her he had just helped him change. She told the court she felt bad about complaining and apologised, even though she felt she had been right. Her son, now 15, told the court the accused had offered to help him change his clothes after he fell over in the mud. The boy said he did not want help but Edgar went with him to the sickbay and pulled his underpants down and looked at the boy's penis as he got changed. A screen was put around Edgar when the boy gave evidence. Edgar's counsel, Roger Laybourn, said his client told police during interviews he was gay. The boy told the court he suspected in 1991 Edgar was gay. Mr Laybourn asked the boy if he had been nervous around Edgar before the alleged incident. The boy: "Yes, by the way he looked at me . . . not just because he was gay." Another alleged victim testified yesterday via closed circuit television. He said Edgar would put his arm around him and touch his penis through his clothes. -------------------- CAPTION: COURT SUPPORTERS: friends of former teacher John Timothy Edgar arrive at Hamilton District Court yesterday.