|
|
Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
|
Former teacher John
Timothy Edgar, accused of indecently assaulting boys, said he believed two of
the boys made up their allegations together. He told the jury in his
Hamilton District Court trial yesterday the boys were best friends and in the
same class at "I'm afraid a
group of children like that do get together like that in a school,"
Edgar said. He has been accused of
touching the genitals of six boys and looking at another boy's penis while a
teacher at the school. Edgar consistently
denied the allegations throughout his seven hours on the witness stand. Defence counsel Roger Laybourn plans to call another 10 witnesses. The trial is
expected to end early next week. During
cross-examination by Crown Prosecutor David Wilson, QC, Edgar suggested the
jury go to the school where the offences allegedly happened. Judge Lynton Laing agreed and jurors spent nearly an hour looking
through the school. Edgar was also allowed
to return. A condition of his bail had been he stay away from the school. The
trial coincides with school holidays. A defence witness,
Hukanui assistant principal Shona Mitchell, was on
the interview committee that hired Edgar eight years ago. She said Edgar ran
a child-centred classroom that was very stimulating. He also had a good
rapport with children. She said she never saw
him behave inappropriately towards children. |
