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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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The trial of a primary
school teacher accused of indecently assaulting four of his pupils has opened
in Palmerston North. Michael Neville, 48,
who has taught at the Horowhenua school since 1995, denies indecently
assaulting the four girls who were all under the age of 12 at the time of the
alleged assaults. At the opening of his
trial in Palmerston North, the prosecution said there were similarities
between the complaints. One girl says in 2002
while helping Neville sort books in a store room, he put his hands down her
pants, the prosecution said on Monday. Another girl alleges
that five years ago, when she was 7 years old, Neville gave her a spelling
test and touched her. The court heard Neville
was "well-liked" by teachers and parents and was involved in the
day-to-day running of the school. At one stage he was acting assistant
principal. The case has taken over
a year to get to trial and has generated strong interest from both parents
and teachers. Some of Neville's supporters are the parents of students he has
taught. The four young complainants
will give evidence via a video link with the girls' mothers also appearing as
witnesses. |
