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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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The crown and defence
teams have summed up their cases in the sex abuse trial of a Horowhenua
school teacher. Michael Neville is
facing four counts of indecent assault in the Palmerston North District
Court. The charges involve
four former pupils under the age of twelve. Prosecutor Ben
Vanderkolk told the jury that there are coincidences between the evidence
presented by the four children and that cannot be ignored. He told them children
have the same capacity to tell the truth as adults do, and he said the
defence attempt to discredit the honesty of two of the complainants was
cynical and motivated by loyalty and disbelief from fellow teachers, parents
and supporters However, the defence
told the court there are serious flaws in the evidence of the complainants. Bruce Squire QC told
the jury the evidence of one of girls was not feasible for a start. He also reminded the jury
one of the girls only made a claim about Neville three days after speaking to
another complainant at a school market day. |
