Not-guilty teacher considers action against police

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.

Michael Neville, 48, walked free from Palmerston North District Court after a jury found him not guilty of four counts of indecent assaults on girls under 12 dating from early 1999.

The name of the school involved is suppressed.

Last night Mr Neville celebrated with supporters at his home but this morning he said he felt police had not conducted the investigation with any presumption that he was innocent.

He said he and his legal team hadn't decided on what to do about the police investigation but legal action was a possibility.

"I'm not on a witch hunt as such but I think there really needs to be some processes changed so people are treated as innocent people," Mr Neville told National Radio.

He said his first contact with police had left him with the impression they believed he was guilty.

Further than that, police believed he was guilty and gave the impression they would go out to find people to confirm it.

Mr Neville said he would be meeting with the school over the next few days about his returning there.

"That's my dream, to get back to the school that I was teaching at.

"It certainly would not be the same as it was before but I'm still passionate about teaching."

Mr Neville said it would be unwise to comment on the four girls who had accused him.

He hoped men would still want to be teachers and said although there were genuine abuse cases, there needed to be a realistic approach to being able to physically touch children.

His lawyer Bruce Squire QC said there were several legal avenues for Mr Neville.

"There are aspects of the police investigation that we think were less than satisfactory.

"Broadly I think you are left with the impression that instead of investigating complaints made, there was more than a suggestion that the police were actually going about the district looking to engender complaints, which I think is a little unsatisfactory.

"But that's a matter that might need to be addressed in another quarter."

Mr Squire told National Radio the strain had taken a toll on Mr Neville and even though he had been found not guilty, there may still be issues with him returning to his school.

Television's One News reported last night that Levin police would not comment on camera but said their investigation was professional and thorough.

New Zealand Educational Institute national secretary Lynne Bruce told NZPA the teacher's union welcomed the verdict and would review the case to consider its implications.

"It highlights an occupational hazard, faced in particular by male teachers."

People who worked in front-line professions with children or adults were particularly vulnerable to such accusations, she said.

Ms Bruce declined to comment on whether the case had put off men from becoming primary school teachers.

- NZPA