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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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A girl who claims her
teacher abused her said she avoided wearing skirts because they made it
easier for him to touch her. The trial of the girl's
former teacher continued in Palmerston North District Court yesterday.
Charges against 48-year-old Michael Warren Neville stem from complaints by
the girl and three others. When giving evidence by
video, the girl said she chose to wear shorts and pants instead. Neville has pleaded not
guilty to four counts of indecent assault on girls under
12 years alleged to have occurred between January 1999 and August 2003. Yesterday the court
heard video evidence from the first of the complainants who was seven at the
time of the alleged offences, but is now 12. She said Neville had
touched her on the buttocks, upper thigh and groin while standing beside the
teacher's desk for spelling checks. She said that sometimes
his hands were outside her clothing and other times inside. Only one of her
school friends saw what was happening. The first adult she had
told about the teacher's actions was her father. He was preparing dinner one
night and a discussion about some of the teachers at the school involved
Neville and the accusations "just came out of my mouth". Later in the day, the
second complainant appeared briefly, but never got to give her evidence
because a videotape malfunctioned. The girl, also now aged
12, said Neville touched her on the buttocks, stomach and chest when she was
aged eight, nine and 10. Some of the instances happened inside the school and
others in the playground. Katrina Barber and Ben
Vanderkolk are appearing for the Crown and Bruce Squire and Sandra Moran for
the defence. The case is expected to
finish on Friday. -------------------- CAPTION: Michael
Neville: Abuse accused. |
