Capill admits abusing child

The family of convicted sex offender Graham Capill, the former Christian Heritage Party leader, are understood to be standing by him publicly despite being "torn" by his actions.

Capill pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court yesterday to one charge of indecently assaulting a girl under 12.

The court heard that the charge was representative of "three or four" incidents in 2001 and 2002 when he fondled a young girl's genitals while she was in bed.

Capill's lawyer, Jonathan Eaton, said the early guilty plea "reflects his deep shame and heartfelt regret for the harm he caused".

Capill was close to tears throughout his short appearance in court.

A source has told the Weekend Herald that Capill's wife and 10 children were extremely distressed by the case but were supporting him "for now".

The family had asked him to apply for continued name suppression but Capill declined, meaning his name was allowed to be made public yesterday.

After court, he was spirited away by police in an unmarked car. The driver pulled out round other cars queuing at an intersection and travelled through the red light they had stopped for.

Once back at the police station, Capill was transferred to a white police van and driven home.

The Canterbury police district commander, Superintendent Sandra Manderson, said the high level of security was to keep Capill safe following the attack on him as he left court last week.

Daniel McNally, who has no connection to the case, punched Capill outside the court as he called him a "child molester".

Capill was left sprawled on the ground crying.

Capill's 8-year-old victim waited almost three years before speaking out about the abuse.

She eventually told "a third party" who approached a child-focused agency for help. From there, the case was passed to a police investigator, who enlisted the help of the specialist sex abuse team.

Since standing down as the Christian Heritage NZ leader in 2003, Capill worked first in the police communications area then began using his law degree by prosecuting cases for police at the Christchurch District Court.

He has been suspended from his job pending his sentence.

Capill got into politics through his Christchurch church.

He was originally an avionics engineer, although he studied part-time for many years to gain a law degree.

As the Christian Heritage Party leader, he was outspoken against homosexuality and believed enforcing sex education in schools for students as young as 5 was tantamount to "child abuse".

He once called for Shortland Street to be canned because it regularly featured abortion, adultery, homosexuality and incest, which he said did not reflect normal life in New Zealand.

Capill would not talk to the Weekend Herald yesterday, instead sending one of his sons out of the house to issue a "no comment".

Present Christian Heritage leader Ewen McQueen said Capill's shameful actions had brought reproach on the party and the wider Christian community in New Zealand.

"New Zealanders are entitled to have high expectations of their leaders, especially those who profess the Christian faith. In this case those expectations have been terribly betrayed."

Capill will be sentenced next month.

The gospel according to Capill

As Christian Heritage Party leader, Graham Capill portrayed himself as moral watchdog to the nation and guardian of family values:

The appallingly high rate of child abuse in this country does not need any reinforcement from American film-makers.

- on the film Lolita. 1999.

It is inexcusable to screen paedophiliac homosexual acts on national free-to-air television. Depictions of such illegal acts may well result in greater child and young person abuse.

- condemns as immoral the British soap opera Queer As Folk. 2000.

Too often suspects are treated as guilty until they can prove their innocence. Sometimes too much weight is given to evidence from children which is uncorroborated or circumstantial.

- says the law of evidence dealing with sexual offences should be overhauled. 1998.

A sad reflection on the warped moral values that children are now confronted with.

- criticises award-winning book Dare, Truth or Promise by Dunedin writer Paula Boock, which explored lesbian love. 1998.