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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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A schoolteacher who
allegedly indecently touched a seven-year-old pupil while he took her for a
spelling lesson went on trial yesterday accused of indecently assaulting four
pupils over a four-year period. Michael Warren Neville
- who at one point held a senior position at a Horowhenua school - faces four
counts alleging indecent assaults on girls under 12. The charges cover the
period from January 1999 to August 2003. He is defending the
charges. The name of the school where the acts are alleged to have taken
place is suppressed until the end of trial. In a courtroom packed
with media and Neville supporters, Crown prosecutor Katrina Barber set out
the case against the 48 year old. She claimed Neville
fondled the girls - all of whose names are suppressed - in the playground,
once in a storage area and, primarily, in his classroom. Three of the charges
are representative, meaning they cover a number of alleged offences over a
period of time. A fourth alleges one particular offence. In a videotaped
interview with a Child, Youth and Family interviewer played to the court, one
of the girls - aged seven at the time, but now 12 - said Neville had
indecently assaulted her while he tested her spelling. "He sorta squeezes
you in a way, but he does it below the waist. I just think he likes
to touch schoolchildren," she said. She said the touching
had caused her to lose faith in Neville. "I had full trust
in him because he made it seem like he was just this nice, pleasant teacher
who would not hurt (you), but I lost my trust." The assaults allegedly
happened as the girl was standing by his desk. The duration of the assault -
which allegedly included Neville's putting his hands under the girl's
clothing - "depended on how long he was taking me for spelling". "It only finished
when he finished spelling." The girl - the first of
four complainants who will give videotaped and closed-circuit television evidence
- is to continue today. Another of the girls -
who has yet to give evidence - alleges Neville touched her "in places
you are not supposed to" and gave her "cuddles". He allegedly gave
another female pupil a kitten, but allegedly also touched her indecently and
regularly over a two-year period. The fourth complainant
alleges Neville touched her bottom "two or four times". The trial is being
prosecuted by Mrs Barber and Ben Vanderkolk. Neville is defended by Bruce
Squire QC and Sandra Moran, of |
