Two men charged with sexual offending against children appeared before the Kaitaia and Kaikohe District Courts yesterday.
James Brian Sanders (65) appeared before Judge John McDonald in Kaitaia, and was further remanded in custody without plea on 22 charges, some of them representative, of indecent assault and two of unlawful
sexual connection. There were seven female victims, the court heard, aged under 12 to 12-16, duty solicitor Tony Shepherd conceding that more charges could yet be laid.
The identity of the school where Sanders had worked, and his role there, were further suppressed, Judge McDonald, Mr Shepherd and prosecutor Duncan Coleman all agreeing that as far as identifying the accused was concerned the horse had bolted.
"Everyone in that community will know who he is," Judge McDonald said, adding that there was nothing he could do to prevent the media from going to the accused's home, as Mr Shepherd said had already happened.
"He has a wife of 42 years who has no part in these proceedings," Mr Shepherd said.
