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NZ Herald
December 3 2004
Teacher defeats sex counts
NZPA
The
case of a teacher cleared of sex charges against young pupils highlights an
"occupational hazard" facing males in particular, says the primary
teachers union.
A packed public gallery erupted in cheers, tears and high-fives yesterday as
Michael Warren Neville walked from the Palmerston North District Court a free
man.
It took the jury of 10 women and two men 12 hours to reach verdicts over the
charges against Mr Neville, after being sent out by Judge Les Atkins about
3.15pm on Wednesday.
"When the first [not guilty verdict] came in, I thought there's no way
the others could have come out as a guilty verdict," said the accused's
brother, Terry Neville.
"Justice prevailed."
Michael Neville, aged 48 - who at one time held a senior position at the
Kapiti-area school where the offences were alleged to have occurred - faced
four counts of indecent assaults on girls under 12. The charges covered the
period from January 1999 to August last year.
The name of the school remains suppressed.
Welcoming the verdict, the New Zealand Educational Institute - the primary
school teachers union - said the case showed the vulnerability of teachers.
"It highlights an occupational hazard, faced in particular by male
teachers," said national secretary Lynne Bruce.
The NZEI would review the case and consider its implications for union
members.
Mr Neville looked stressed and emotional as he stood in the dock for the
reading of the verdicts.
Collective sighs of relief ran through the court as not-guilty verdicts
rolled in one after the other.
A number of people, and Mr Neville, began weeping.
He said later that the trauma of the eight-day trial and 18 months of stress
in the leadup to it had not diminished his love of teaching.
"I still love the profession, even where I work."
He had no comment to make about his accusers, but said he dreamed of
returning to teaching.
Mr Neville's lawyers, Bruce Squire, QC, and Sandra Moran, both of Wellington,
were given a standing ovation as they left the court, and another round of
applause as they drove off.
About 40 of Mr Neville's friends, family and colleagues were celebrating the
verdicts at his house in Levin last night, said a member of the school's
board.
"Plenty of toasting going on and everyone's hugging and kissing. It's
great."
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