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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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The first of four
alleged victims in the trial of Horowhenua schoolteacher Michael Warren
Neville was cross-examined yesterday. Defence counsel Bruce
Squire questioned the now 12-year-old girl about finer points of allegations
against Neville, as well as trouble she allegedly got into for stealing at
school. She was 10 when
Neville, 48, was alleged to have touched her legs, buttocks and genitals,
while he sat at his desk testing her spelling. Neville faces four
charges of indecently assaulting girls under 12 while teaching at a school in
the Horowhenua area between 1999 and 2003. The four girls cannot
be named, neither can the school. Neville is denying the charges. The girl had earlier
said the spelling tests were carried out every second day, but Mr Squire
suggested they were actually held once a week, every Friday. Mr Squire also asked the
girl about a fun day held at the school, where he said she was seen playing
in a swimming pool with Neville. She admitted she had
been in the pool, playing with Neville and another girl. Court adjourned at 5pm,
halfway through the video-taped interview of the second alleged victim in the
trial. Her evidence will continue today. The trial in Palmerston
North District Court, presided over by Judge Les Atkins, is expected to run
until at least Friday. |
