Indecency trial: IT specialists testify teacher looking at pornographic websites

The former teacher denies masturbating, but concedes he was watching pornography in the empty classroom during lunchtime. Photo / Thinkstock

The trial of a well-respected teacher allegedly caught masturbating to pornography in a classroom at an Auckland school has wrapped up for the day.

The crown has finished calling witnesses and the defence has no further evidence to give in the trial.

Judge Anne Kiernan has reserved her decision until Monday.

The former teacher, from a top Auckland school, is on trial for allegedly committing an indecent act in June 2013. He denies masturbating, but has conceded he was watching pornography in the empty classroom during lunchtime.

The court heard today from Detective Michael Richards that the teacher was looking at Tumblr sites that contained pornographic images.

The head of IT for the school gave a statement to police that was read in court by crown prosecutor Nick Webby. He described how he accessed the server log for the teacher's computer and gave it to police.

The server log showed that over lunchtime from 12.26pm to 1.12pm on the day the student claimed to have seen the teacher masturbating in the classroom, the teaching had been accessing Tumblr sites with various URLs.

Mr Richards said in an interview conducted with the teacher, the teacher did not deny he had accessed the Tumblr sites, but said they could have been 'pop-up' sites.

He no longer teaches, resigning after the boy made the allegation and then being suspended by the Teachers' Council a month later.

The man's name is suppressed, although the school does not support his desire to keep his identity a secret.

Yesterday, a 17-year-old witness told the court he'd peered in a window and said he saw the teacher masturbating.

Defence lawyer Richard Earwaker did not believe the witness had seen the teacher masturbating. "Did you make a story up for your mates?" he asked. "No," the boy replied.

The defence disputes the allegation the act took place in public, and have indicated they will argue the teacher had reasonable expectation of privacy if the judge finds the charge has been proven.