Boy wanted to be ‘kicked out’

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 12

Boy wanted to be ‘kicked out’

A boy, aged 12, giving evidence at the trial on indecent assault charges of his former youth group leader, told the Court that he liked going to places with the defendant, but “sometimes when he touches me I don’t like it.” The complainant was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of Dougal John Crossan, aged 35, a mechanic. The boy said that he had gone away on holiday with the defendant and another family, and had also gone on camps and stayed at the defendant’s place. Cross-examined by the defence counsel, Mr S. Barker, the boy agreed that the defendant was like a second father to him. The Crown has brought 20 charges of indecent assault, covering a period of 12 years until last year. Two complainants who were to give evidence yesterday did not appear. Judge Erber directed that the defendant should be discharged on four counts.

Another boy, aged 13, said that he would go on outings with the defendant, sometimes with other families or boys from the youth group. The complainant gave evidence of indecencies committed against him on camps and in Christchurch. The witness said he was trying to “be really naughty and get kicked out (of youth group).” In the end, he said he told the defendant he was leaving. “I was glad it was all over.” A former detective with the police in Christchurch, Mr Stuart Gray, who had been in charge of the case, said the defendant indicated that the matters had been weighing heavily on his mind and. he had considered resigning from the youth group. The defendant also said that he was not a homosexual, and had had girl friends in the past. Mr Barker opened the defence yesterday afternoon, telling the jury that any allegation of a sexual nature “was an extremely easy one to make, and

almost impossible to refute, especially where one is in the position of looking after children.” Dr Colin Freeman, a university lecturer, said that he had known the defendant reasonably closely for seven years. Dr Freeman, himself a former youth group leader, has had two sons in the group. He said that he had always found the defendant honest, with “remarkable” organisational skills, and he put a lot of time into work with the youth group.

Dr Freeman said he was “totally astounded” on hearing of the allegations. Cross-examined by the Crown prosecutor, Mr D. Saunders, the witness said he would have to say that some of the defendant’s actions were unusual and unwise. The defendant began his evidence yesterday, saying one of the allegations had been “trumped up” by one of the boys because he wanted to get back at his brother. ' The trial continues today.