|
This page last updated Jan 5 2005
2005-0105 - Newstalk ZB - Abuse
case prompts review of advice
NZEI national president Colin Tarr says the school's community is fortunate
to have such a dedicated and hard-working teacher.
.. Mr Tarr says the case
has raised a number of issues for the teaching profession, and as a result,
the NZEI will be looking at the advice it gives its members
2005-0105 - Stuff - Union
welcomes teacher's reinstatement
NZPA - NZEI national
president Colin Tarr said the union had supported Mr Neville since the
allegations against him were made 19 months ago. "The information the
union had from the outset of the case made it clear he was innocent of the
charges," Mr Tarr said in a statement. "We welcomed his acquittal and
now we welcome the news that he will be returning to the classroom at the
school where he has taught since 1995.'
2005-0105 - Dominion Post -
Union pleased
Educational Institute
president Colin Tarr said the union supported Mr Neville, who fought the
charges. "We hope he is allowed to put the events of the last 19 months
behind him."
2005-0104 - Dominion Post -
Back to school for cleared teacher
by Robyn McLean and
NZPA - The school board announced the decision in a newsletter to parents on
December 29. "The committee met recently with Mike at which an open and
frank discourse took place," it said. "The committee unanimously
decided that it was appropriate that [he] be welcomed back to his full
teaching duties." Board members and teachers would meet to discuss
"ongoing issues", which would include a "full discussion about
[the] school's physical contact policy and potential health and safety
issues".
2005-0104 - NZEI - NZEI Delighted
Acquitted Teacher Has His Job Back
NZEI Press Release -
NZEI Te Riu Roa is delighted that Levin school teacher, Mike Neville, has his
job back following his acquittal a month ago. Mike is a member of NZEI Te
Riu Roa and the union has supported him throughout his ordeal, which began 19
months ago when accusations were made against him, says NZEI Te Riu Roa
National President, Colin Tarr. The information the union had from the outset of the case made it
clear he was innocent of the charges.
2004-1218 - Dominion
Post - Acquitted teacher gets his job back
by Sophie Neville -
The Kapiti teacher acquitted of sex charges involving former pupils has been
reinstated at the small rural school where he used to teach
Mr Neville said
he was aware of one family that had left, but the support of the rest of the
community had been huge. He was still feeling buoyant about the acquittal.
"The community has been amazing. It's been really tremendous. They
haven't backed away from us at all."
2004-1211 Dominion Post -
Safe conduct for teachers
by Sophie Neville -
The climate of panic around child safety means the sad reality for male
teachers is to safeguard themselves against false accusations
2004-1208 NZ Herald -
Tragedy of the teaching profession
Editorial- Few items
of news have been sadder than the plight of Kapiti Coast schoolteacher Mike
Neville after his acquittal last week on four charges of indecent assault of
pupils. Not much of the case can be discussed since the names of the
complainants and the school have been suppressed, but the jurys verdict
speaks for itself.
2004-1207 NZ Herald -
'Safe practice' casts teachers as abusers
by Alison Jones - The
acquittal of Michael Neville, the schoolteacher accused of abusing his
pupils, was welcomed cautiously by the primary teachers' union, the New
Zealand Educational Institute. Its national secretary, Lynne Bruce, said not
that the case marked a victory but that it highlighted an "occupational
hazard" for (particularly male) primary teachers. That is disturbing
enough. But what's more alarming is that the policies and practices intended
to guard against this risk unintentionally maintain the idea of the teacher
as a sexual abuser.
Cartoon:
Tom Scott; Dec 6 2004
2004-1206 - Child Forum Research
Network - NZEI Still Letting Male Teachers Down
Press Release - In
primary and early childhood education, support for male teachers is at an all
time low according to education researcher Dr Sarah Farquhar. NZEI as the
union for teachers of young children should be telling teachers to resist the
moral panic concerning physical contact with children and it should be
playing a leading role in rehabilitating the negative image that surrounds
being a male teacher
2004-1206 NZ Herald -
Acquitted teacher will face tough fight back
The primary teachers'
union says it will lend its full force to helping a teacher cleared of sexual
assault to get back into the classroom - but experts warn he could face a
long road ahead.
2004-1204 Dominion Post
- We know Neville did it, police told mum
By Sophie Neville -
The mother of a girl who accused a teacher of sexually assaulting her says
she was told by police that the man was a paedophile and they knew he was
guilty.
..He says he was treated as a criminal by police "from the word
go". The officers who arrested him came to his house at 8am in black clothes
and black wrap-around sunglasses. They would not let him dress alone, and
told his wife: "He's our prisoner, we'll go where we like."
"It really was bizarre. Like straight out of a movie," Mr Neville
said
2004-1204 NZ Herald -
Acquitted teacher refuses to be bitter, just wants to work
The teacher acquitted
this week of four counts of indecently assaulting schoolgirls in his care is
adamant he wants to return to the job but the wounds of the past 18 months
are raw. Mr Neville believes he was
unfairly treated by police who, he says, assumed his guilt before even
speaking with him last year, then ran a six-week publicity campaign to try to
draw out more victims.
2004-1203 The Press -
Teachers 'vulnerable'
NZPA - A teacher
acquitted yesterday on sex charges levelled against him by former pupils says
he wants to return to the school, almost 1-1/2 years after the case began.
Neville said he was "absolutely, unbelievably relieved" at the
verdict. "A huge relief after 17 months of hell. It's all over," he
said
2004-1203 One News - Teacher
unhappy with police inquiry
Horowhenua teacher
Michael Neville, who was acquitted of indecently assaulting four young girls,
may take action against the police. Neville's lawyer Bruce Squire QC, said
the trial took a huge toll on Neville and aspects of the police inquiry were
"less than satisfactory."
 2004-1203 One News -
Acquitted teacher considering action
Horowhenua teacher
Michael Neville, who was acquitted of indecently assaulting four young girls,
may take action against the police. Neville's lawyer Bruce Squire QC, said
the trial took a huge toll on Neville and aspects of the police inquiry were
"less than satisfactory."
2004-1203 NZ Herald - Not-guilty
teacher considers action against police
NZPA - A Kapiti
teacher yesterday cleared of sexually assaulting girls at his school wants to
return to the school but is considering legal action against the police over
their investigation
2004-1203 NZ Herald -
Teacher defeats sex counts
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.
2004-1203 Manawatu
Standard - Jury sets Neville free
by David Eames - A
packed public gallery erupted in cheers, tears and high fives as former
teacher Michael Warren Neville walked from the Palmerston North District
Court a free man yesterday. It took the jury of 10 women and two men 12 hours
to decide he was not guilty on indecent assault charges.
2004-1203 Newstalk ZB -
Teacher has union support
A Horowhenua teacher
acquitted of sex abuse charges has the full support of his union.
The
primary teachers union welcomes the acquittal. NZEI national secretary Lynne
Bruce says from the information Mr Neville's legal team provided, the union
had formed the view he was innocent.
2004-1203 Dominion Post -
The long road back from hell
By Sophie Neville -
Allegations of indecent assault against a Kapiti teacher spread their ripples
far beyond the accused, the complainants and their families. Sophie Neville
reports on reaction to yesterday's not guilty verdicts.
 2004-1203 Dominion Post - 'A
victory for male teachers'
by Mervyn Dykes -
Kapiti teacher Michael Neville says his acquittal on indecent assault charges
is a great victory for male teachers everywhere. "This is a real
breakthrough," he said yesterday, his face streaked with tears.
"Male teachers of young children can take new heart from knowing that
there is still sense and justice in this world."
Photos:
Relief:
Michael Neville and his wife Adele are
ecstatic as they leave the court after he received four not guilty verdicts
on indecent assault charges.
by Kent Blechynden
2004-1202 One News - Acquitted
man wants to teach again
But supporters are
critical of the police investigation. In the middle of last year parents were
given an investigation outline by police. It said a sexual assault had taken
place, yet at that stage no charges had been laid against Neville. "I
think they basically ran a campaign as opposed to an objective, impartial
assessment of what was going on," says supporter Ian McIntosh.
2004-1202 - NZEI - NZEI Welcomes
Teachers Acquittal
Press Release - NZEI
Te Riu Roa has welcomed the acquittal of Levin school teacher, Mike Neville,
who is a member of the union. "NZEI Te Riu Roa has supported Mike
throughout this case, says NZEI Te Riu Roa National Secretary, Lynne Bruce.
From the information we had the union formed the view that he was innocent
of the charges against him, says Ms Bruce.
2004-1202 Newstalk ZB -
Teacher ready to go back to classroom
The Horowhenua
teacher who has been acquitted of sex abuse charges against four former
pupils says he has not been put off the profession. Michael Neville was this
afternoon found not guilty at the Palmerston North District Court of
indecently assaulting four girls under the age of 12, leaving his family and
friends in tears of joy.
2004-1202 Manawatu
Standard Teacher acquitted of indecent assault charges
A packed public gallery erupted in cheers, tears and high-fives as a
schoolteacher cleared of sex charges walked from Palmerston North District
Court a free man today.
.. "When the first (not guilty verdict) came
in, I thought there's no way the others could have come out as a guilty
verdict," the accused's brother, Terry Neville, said. "Justice
prevailed."
2004-1202 - IRN - Teacher not
guilty on abuse charges
Supporters of Michael Neville erupted
into cheers in the courtroom after he was found not guilty of indecent assault. A Horowhenua teacher charged
with the indecent assault of four former students has been found not guilty
on all four charges.
2004-1202 - Newstalk ZB -
Teacher not guilty on abuse charges-
A Horowhenua
teacher charged with the indecent assault of four former students has been
found not guilty on all four charges. A jury at the Palmerston North District Court has just
returned with its verdict.
2004-1202 - Manawatu
Standard - Sex assault jury back in court today
by David Eames - A
Palmerston North District Court jury yesterday went to a hotel room for the
night, stuck for a verdict in the case of Horowhenua schoolteacher Michael
Warren Neville, accused of indecently assaulting four of his female pupils.
2004-1202 - Dominion Post -
Court Packed
Defence lawyer Bruce
Squire QC said the Crown's case was based on the uncorroborated evidence of
four complainants. The first complainant had said during her evidence that
her best friend had witnessed the offence, but the Crown had not called the
friend as a witness.
Crown lawyer Ben
Vanderkolk accused some of the defence witnesses of a cynical attitude
concerning allegations of dishonesty and lying against two of the
complainants. Incidents treated lightly at school assumed major importance
during the trial.
Judge Atkins told the jury that, to constitute an assault, touching had to be
deliberate or intentional. "The second thing to consider is whether the
assault was an indecent one and that is for you alone to decide."
2004-1201 - IRN - Sex abuse trial
closing arguments
Closing arguments will be heard today in the sex abuse trial of a teacher in
the Palmerston North District Court.
2004-1202 - Newstalk ZB
Jurors Revisit
A jury hearing the
trial of a Horowhenua school teacher charged with indecent assault will
revisit video evidence from one of the complainants this morning
The jury of ten women and two men
was out for seven hours before retiring late last night.
2004-1201 - Newstalk ZB -
Lawyers sum up in abuse case
The crown and defence
teams have summed up their cases in the sex abuse trial of a Horowhenua
school teacher
Prosecutor Ben Vanderkolk told the jury that there are coincidences
between the evidence presented by the four children and that cannot be
ignored
..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.
2004-1201 Newstalk
ZB - Sex abuse trial closing arguments
Closing arguments
will be heard today in the sex abuse trial of a teacher in the Palmerston
North District Court.
2004-1201 Dominion Post
- Teacher's trial draws to a close
Closing arguments in
the indecent assault trial of Kapiti teacher Michael Warren Neville are to
begin this morning and the jury could retire to consider its verdict as early
as this afternoon.
2004-1130 Dominion
Post - Teachers challenge complainant's honesty
Witnesses have
challenged the honesty of another complainant in the trial of a Kapiti
teacher for indecent assault.
.Yesterday, in Palmerston North District
Court, three teachers called as defence witnesses said the third girl, who
alleged Neville had put his hand inside her underwear and assaulted her, also
could not be relied on to tell the truth.
2004-1127 Dominion
Post - Girls not truthful, teacher tells court
Two of the four girls
said to have been indecently assaulted by Kapiti teacher Michael Warren
Neville could not be relied upon to tell the truth, their former deputy
principal told Palmerston North District Court yesterday.
2004-1126 NZ Herald -
Teacher on trial takes the stand
NZPA - A 48-year-old
teacher with a penchant for drawing smiley faces and hosting "mat
time" for pre-schoolers took the witness box yesterday afternoon to deny
allegations he indecently assaulted four of his pupils.
2004-1126 - IRN - Teacher says
nothing sexual in pupil interaction
A Horowhenua teacher
accused of indecent assault of his pupils says there was never anything
sexual about the way he interacted with them
. Neville told the court while
he sometimes patted children's backs or shoulders when praising them, or
would occasionally hug a student, there was never anything inappropriate. He
also told the court he often had parent helpers in his class and parents
often popped in.
2004-1126 - IRN - Defence mounts
sex abuse case
The defence has
mounted its case at the Palmerston North District Court in the sex abuse
trial of a Horowhenua schoolteacher
. The defence is calling 16 witnesses.
Neville himself has started giving evidence
2004-1126 Newstalk ZB
- Teacher says nothing sexual in pupil interaction
A Horowhenua teacher
accused of indecent assault of his pupils says there was never anything
sexual about the way he interacted with them.
2004-1126 Newstalk ZB -
Spotlight on credibility
The credibility of
two complainants in the sex abuse case against a Horowhenua teacher have come
under the spotlight.
2004-1126 Newstalk ZB -
Defence mounts sex abuse case
The defence has
mounted its case at the Palmerston North District Court in the sex abuse
trial of a Horowhenua schoolteacher.
2004-1126 Manawatu
Standard - Teacher enters the witness box
by David Eames - A
48-year-old schoolteacher with a penchant for drawing smiley faces and
hosting "mat time" for pre-schoolers took the witness box yesterday
afternoon to deny allegations he indecently assaulted four of his pupils.
2004-1126 Dominion Post
- 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.
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.
2004-1125 - IRN - Jury holds teacher's
life in its hands
The defence, in
opening its case in the sex abuse trial against a Horowhenua teacher, told
the jury they hold his life in their hands
2004-1125 Newstalk ZB -
Mum gives evidence in sex abuse case
The mother of one of
the complainants in the sex abuse case against a Horowhenua school teacher
says her daughter adored him.
2004-1125 Newstalk ZB - Jury
holds teacher's life in its hands
Neville's lawyer told
the jury this afternoon in Palmerston North that the allegations border on
being ruinous to a man who has committed himself to improving the lot of
children. Neville himself has started giving evidence. The 48-year-old talked
about how he decided to go to teacher's college after being told he had a
natural affinity with children.
2004-1125
Manawatu Standard - Third complainant tells of touching
by Don Kavanagh -
Another girl gave evidence of being indecently assaulted at school as the
trial of a Horowhenua schoolteacher continued in Palmerston North District
Court yesterday.
.The third complainant, none of whom can be identified,
yesterday gave evidence of Neville touching her after she helped him tidy
after class.
2004-1125 Dominion Post -
More girls testify against teacher
A girl told the
Palmerston North District Court yesterday that former Kapiti teacher Michael
Warren Neville put his hand into her pants and touched her indecently. She
was the third of four complainants called to give evidence by video after the
first girl said the teacher had touched her inappropriately during spelling
checks
2004-1124 Newstalk ZB
- Girls give evidence against teacher
Three girls have now
given evidence in the case against a Horowhenua primary school teacher
accused of indecent assault.
2004-1124 Manawatu
Standard - 12-year-old cross-examined in schoolteacher trial
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.
2004-1124 Dominion Post -
Girl tells of teacher's abuse
by Mervyn Dykes - A
girl who claims her teacher abused her said she avoided wearing skirts
because they made it easier for him to touch her. When giving evidence by
video, the girl said she chose to wear shorts and pants instead.
2004-1123 Manawatu
Standard - Trial opens for teacher accused of fondling pupils
Kapiti Coast primary
school teacher Michael Warren Neville, 48, went on trial yesterday accused of
indecently assaulting four of his female pupils over a four-year period.
2004-1123 Manawatu
Standard - Former pupil testifies against teacher
by David Eames - A
schoolteacher who allegedly indecently touched a seven-year-old pupil while
he took her for a spelling lesson went on trial yesterday accused of
indecently assaulting four pupils over a four-year period. Michael Warren
Neville - who at one point held a senior position at a Horowhenua school -
faces four counts alleging indecent assaults on girls under 12. The charges
cover the period from January 1999 to August 2003.
 2004-1123 Dominion Post -
Teacher touched girl in class, court told
The trial of a Kapiti
schoolteacher facing four charges of indecently assaulting young female
pupils has heard videotaped evidence from one complainant that he touched her
during spelling tests. The girl was seven years old when the alleged touching
took place and she outlined what had happened four years later in a police
interview.
2004-1122 One News -
Primary school teacher facing charges
The trial of a
primary school teacher accused of indecently assaulting four of his pupils
has opened in Palmerston North. Michael Neville, 48, who has taught at the
Horowhenua school since 1995, denies indecently assaulting the four girls who
were all under the age of 12 at the time of the alleged assaults.
2004-1122 Newstalk ZB -
Indecent charges against teacher
The Crown has opened
its case against a Horowhenua teacher charged with indecently assaulting four
former pupils
2004-1122 - IRN - Indecent
charges against teacher
The Crown has opened
its case against a Horowhenua teacher charged with indecently assaulting four
former pupils. Michael Neville is accused of touching inappropriately, girls
aged between seven and 10 at the time, between 1999 and 2003
2004-1122 - IRN - Teacher in court
charged with sex offences
A trial gets underway today for a Horowhenua primary school teacher accused
of sexual assault against four former pupils
2004-0311 Kapiti News -
News headlines
Kapiti Coast school-teacher Michael Neville is
to face charges of indecently assaulting four pupils in a court trial. In the
Palmerston North District Court this week a pre-trial hearing was set down
for late May. Neville faces four charges of indecently assaulting girls under
the age of twelve during a three-year period
2004-0309 Dominion Post - Trial
date for teacher
Kapiti Coast schoolteacher Michael Warren Neville, who is accused of
indecently assaulting four pupils, will stand trial on August 16
2003-1222 Dominion Post -
Sex charges
An NZPA report on the appearance of Kapiti Coast
schoolteacher Michael Warren Neville, 47, in Palmerston North District Court
on Friday incorrectly stated that the four charges he faces of indecently
assaulting girls under 12 over a three-year period were representative. The
charges were not representative
2003-1220 Manawatu
Standard - School teacher on sex charges
Justices of the Peace Herb Yates and Robert Campbell ruled Neville had a
prima facie case to answer. He was remanded on bail to a district court
call-over on February 10.
2003-1219 Manawatu
Standard - Objections punctuate hearing of evidence against teacher
Three complainants' mothers gave evidence at the depositions. One of them
told the court she had seen Neville "frequently" hugging girls. She
had also seen him cuddling the girls, holding their hands, or putting them on
his knee. Another mother called him "friendly, lovely. Kids loved
him". "If a child would fall over, he would go and pick him up and
give him a bit of a cuddle."
2003-1219 Dominion Post -
Girls sat on teacher's knee, court told
The woman told the two presiding justices of the peace that she was a
frequent visitor to the school, which also cannot be named. During 1999, when
her daughter was seven, she often saw Neville cuddling girls, holding hands
with them and having them sit on his knee. "Not just with my daughter,
but with other children," she said. In the playground children would run
up to him, hug him and hold his hand, she said. However, the woman said she
never challenged Neville about his actions
2003-1106 NZ Herald -
Photographer tackled outside court
Two women supporters of a schoolteacher on sex charges grabbed a photographer
as he pursued the accused outside Levin District Court yesterday
2003-1106 Dominion
Post - Date set for hearing on Kapiti teacher
Judge Phillip Connell remanded Neville, 47, on bail for the depositions
hearing to be held at Palmerston North District Court on December 18 and 19.
As had been the case for his previous appearance, Neville's supporters
yesterday made strenuous attempts to shield him from the media -- this time
tackling Dominion Post photographer Maarten Holl.
2003-1021 Dominion Post -
Teacher faces fourth sex charge
. Detective Sergeant Peter Govers of Levin police said yesterday that the
fourth charge was laid after a call to an 0800 number that police had set up
for the case. Mr Govers said the latest girl to complain, also a former pupil
of Neville, alleged that he had indecently assaulted her "during class
time during the year 2001".
2003-1009 Manawatu
Standard - Teacher named
Name suppression was yesterday lifted on a Levin schoolteacher charged with
indecently assaulting three of his pupils. Michael Neville, 47, a teacher of
eight years, faces three representative charges covering a three-year period
from 1999
2003-1009 Dominion Post
- Teacher facing sexual assault charges named
A primary school teacher charged with indecently assaulting three girls aged
under 12 has lost interim name suppression. Police arrested Michael Warren
Neville, 47, who lives in Levin but teaches on the Kapiti Coast,
on September 23. They charged him with indecently assaulting three girls, all
former pupils aged under 12, between January 1999 and August this year
|
