Allegations of Sexual Abuse
	False Allegations
	John Edgar case
	Waikato Times April 30 1998 Sex accused must prove innocence: Law Society by Jon The Law Society says law changes mean people accused of sex crimes now have to prove their innocence. Spokesman and Wellington lawyer Bruce Davidson today said this went against a basic theory of justice which said the defence did not have to prove anything while the prosecution had to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. His comments come the day after former Hamilton primary school teacher John Timothy Edgar was acquitted on all eight indecency charges by a Hamilton District Court jury. Seven boys had alleged Dr Edgar, 38, had either touched or looked at their genitals while he was a teacher at the school. Dr Edgar testified himself and called other witnesses to refute the boys allegations. Mr Davidson said a law change in 1985 meant people could be convicted of sex crimes on the word of the complainant alone without the need of corroborative evidence.