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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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Former
He
made the offer to Detective Constable Neil Burgess just before he was
interviewed at Edgar,
38, is on trial in Hamilton District Court accused of seven counts of
indecent assault and one of committing an indecent act. Seven
alleged victims have now given evidence. Crown
prosecutor David Wilson, QC, finished presenting the Crown's case late this
morning. Edgar
took the stand for the first time in the trial at noon. As
his counsel Roger Laybourn took him through each
charge, Edgar denied the allegation. He
was asked to speak up by both counsel and the judge, and also to speak more
slowly. The
information about Edgar's offer to take a lie detector test was gleaned by Mr
Laybourn, during cross-examination of Mr Burgess. The
police officer said Edgar made the offer soon after they were introduced and
as they walked into the room where Edgar was then interviewed about the
allegation. Mr
Burgess said he did not record the offer in his notebook because the
interview had not started. He
said police did not use lie-detector tests and they were inadmissable
as evidence in court. Edgar
had consistently denied the allegation and others that police inquiries at
the school later unearthed, Mr Burgess said. An
11-year-old boy today told the court Edgar had given him 10 lollies on November 10 to try on a pair of togs. The boy
claimed he was indecently assaulted by Edgar, and told a friend, who went with
him to tell the deputy principal. A
10-year-old witness yesterday said court Edgar once picked him up while he
was in the playground, carried him into the school's lunchroom and touched
his genitals. The boy said his friend tried to get Edgar to let go. The boy
said he felt uncomfortable and "icky". --------------------
CAPTION:
ACCUSED TEACHER: John Edgar leaves court yesterday. The court heard he
offered to take a lie detector test. |
