A former Dunedin high school teacher and convicted sex offender is standing trial on historic accusations he indecently assaulted a pupil during cricket practice.
David Russell Bond’s counsel is arguing the alleged victim read about one of his convictions in the Otago Daily Times last year, leading him to claim he was also assaulted.
The 68-year-old’s jury trial began yesterday morning in the Dunedin District Court before Judge Michael Turner.
The alleged offence dates between October 2007 and March 2008, while Bond was the head of junior cricket and a teacher at Otago Boys’ High School.
Counsel Anne Stevens QC said Bond, who has two prior convictions for indecent assault of boys under 16, was being used as a ‘‘scapegoat’’.
‘‘[The man] has had problems for years with his mental state and his physical wellbeing, which he now blames Mr Bond for,’’ she said.
The man, now in his 20s, was the first Crown witness yesterday and was visibly angry, distressed and at times in tears as he described the alleged incident and Bond’s visits to his classroom.
He was at a cricket practice, getting ready to bat, when he said Bond approached him.
‘‘I put my leg pads on. He came over and said ‘have you got your box on yet?’
‘‘Before I could say ‘no’ he grabbed my testicles and penis.’’
He shouted at Bond and shoved him, causing him to stumble backwards.
He said he then went to the rector’s office to complain; but claimed he was not believed and told he had been ‘‘naughty’’ to Bond before.
There were times during their later interactions when Bond threatened to call the police on him for shoving him, he said.
The jury was told at the outset Mr Bond had a conviction for an indecent assault in 1975 during a trip to Mt Aspiring, the year before he began teaching at Otago Boys’.
Last year he also pleaded guilty last year to a representative charge of molesting a boy at basketball practice between 1997 and 1999.
It appeared the complainant had read about the second conviction in the Otago Daily Times in 2018 before contacting the police a few days later, Mrs Stevens said.
Despite other people being around at the cricket practice, no witnesses there at the time were being called.
‘‘The defence case is that [the man] completely made up this story, and that is why you will not hear from one other person to verify it.’’
The trial is expected to continue tomorrow and into Friday.
