Allegations of Sexual Abuse
	False Allegations
	Michael Neville case
	Dominion Post November 26 2004 Kapiti teacher kept in dark about allegations Former Kapiti teacher Michael Warren Neville was suspended before he knew the nature of the allegations against him, he told Palmerston North District Court yesterday. Neville, 48, who has pleaded not guilty to four charges of indecently assaulting girls under 12 was the first of 16 witnesses scheduled to be called by his defence. He said the first he knew of any problem was when he was called to a meeting with the principal of his school and the chairman of its board of trustees in June last year. They said they had been contacted by Levin police and certain allegations had been made. They could not tell him anything about the charges. "I was overwhelmed," he said. "I could not believe this was happening to me." Though police had advised the principal to stand him down he was allowed to carry on teaching till August 11 when the board chairman told him by telephone that he was to be suspended immediately. At that stage he had still not been given information about the charges but the chairman said: "I hope you've got a good lawyer." Neville said he was reinstated after the intervention of his teachers' union about two weeks before the end of term, but a teacher's aide had to be with him at all times. One week into the holidays he found out what was happening when police arrested him on the first three of the eventual four charges of indecent assault. Before the defence began its case yesterday, the jury of 10 women and two men was stood down while four hours of legal argument took place. Neville will continue his evidence today.