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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
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"They (the allegations) were
just the result of a group of children who knew each other ... who made up
stupid stories." John Edgar. ----------
Former
teacher John Timothy Edgar raised his arms in jubilation as he was cleared on
eight counts of indecency by a Hamilton District Court jury early today. A
loud cheer from about 15 of his supporters also greeted the verdicts,
delivered at 12.40am after the jury had deliberated for more than 14 hours. Judge
Lynton Laing then told Dr Edgar to stand down from
the dock and leave the courtroom. The judge apologised to the jury for the
reaction of Dr Edgar and his supporters. Dr
Edgar left the courtroom to cheers of "Good on you, John" and
"You beauty". In the foyer outside, he was greeted with hugs,
handshakes and tears. Parents
of the boys who laid the complaints left the court visibly upset by the
verdicts. Outside
the courthouse, Dr Edgar said he had endured six months of hell for something
he did not do. Flanked by his lawyers Roger Laybourn
and Mark Hammond, he said the decision vindicated him and his supporters. While
the jury's verdicts were a victory for all male teachers, he warned men
considering teaching as a career not to choose it and those already in the
profession to get out. He
also described the police investigation as "sloppy". Dr Edgar, who
has a doctorate in history, said police did not use the evidence of two
witnesses who would have cleared him. "(Police). . . interviewed a student teacher and a teacher at the
school, who were able to show the allegations were false," he said. Police
also did not interview other teachers who would have backed him up, Dr Edgar
said. The
allegations he had abused students were made up by one group of children at
the school. "They
were just the result of a group of children who knew each other . . . who made up stupid stories . . . it just developed some
sort of a nightmarish life of itself," he said. "They
were just absolutely weird. I was meant to have indecently assaulted two of
them on the same day, on the day the Education Review Office began its
inspection of Detective
Chief Inspector Rex Miller defended police handling of the investigation.
Detective Constable Neil Burgess was the officer in charge of the
investigation. Mr
Miller said the investigation was conducted thoroughly and professionally. He
said the Crown and police were happy with the evidence from the children. "Had
we doubted them, we would not have taken them to court as witnesses," he
said. A
parent of one of the children who laid a complaint today said he and his
family were "gutted" by the jury's decision: "It's pretty hard
to tell your son the news when he had done everything right." Dr
Edgar also criticised the Waikato Times for publishing a photograph of him
after he was charged last November. He said he was bitter because the
photograph had ruined his career. --------------------
CAPTION:
VINDICATED: John Edgar leaves Hamilton District Court early today arms raised
in victory after he was cleared of all charges. With him are his lawyers Mark
Hammond, left, and Roger Laybourn. PICTURE: Shane
Morton |
