Gavin Morris, once principal of Yipirinya School, given suspended sentence
The former principal of an Alice Springs school, who was found guilty of assaulting children, has been spared jail. See the video.
The former principal of a school for Aboriginal kids has been spared jail after being found guilty of aggravated assault against four boys.
On Thursday, Judge Anthony Hopkins sentenced Gavin Morris in the Alice Springs Local Court, with a collective gasp heard from the gallery when his sentence was suspended.
He was convicted on all counts and given an 24 month jail sentence, immediately suspended for two years.
Morris, the former principal of Yipirinya School in Alice Springs, was found guilty of four counts of aggravated assault by Judge Hopkins in October.
Judge Hopkins found him not guilty on the fifth count.
Morris was determined to have dragged two children – aged 8 and 9 – by their ears on counts two and three.
On counts one and four, Judge Hopkins determined he choked two children, both aged 12.
The assaults took place in 2023, the court previously heard.
Morris is set to appeal the verdict, the court has previously heard.
Morris “has an inability” to restrain himself, Judge Hopkins said, who determined he acted impulsively when he assaulted the children.
Throughout the sentencing, Morris stared straight ahead at Judge Hopkins, who told him his actions had harmed the community.
Morris’ sentencing was first listed to take place on Monday, but was adjourned after lengthy submissions from both the prosecution and defence.
Lawyer John Wilson, representing Morris, submitted his client should serve a suspended sentence – or a home detention period – and called his offending “loss of control in a stressful situation”.
Mr Wilson also said his client was most likely to never teach again, given the nature of his convictions.
Prosecutor James Moore called a suspended sentence “inadequate” on Monday, and further labelled the former principal’s offending “gratuitous” in which “Morris abused his position of trust, power”.
On Thursday, Judge Hopkins said Morris had not shown any remorse, which “complicates” his “pathway to rehabilitation”.
But Judge Hopkins did note Morris overcame a challenging childhood, and excelled academically despite this.
However, Judge Hopkins said despite Morris’ challenging childhood – which included being exposed to domestic violence – it was not a mitigating factor in sentencing.
The sustained media coverage was also noted by Judge Hopkins, who determined it was punishment in itself.
The court on Thursday also heard victim impact statements from the kids – who have a non-publication order preventing them from being identified – who “will live with the memory” of what Morris did, Judge Hopkins said.
Morris was first charged with the assaults in August last year, and pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance.
He also pleaded not guilty to his charges at the beginning of a 10-day Judge-only trial in Alice Springs in September this year.
During the trial, Morris did not give evidence and no witnesses were called in his defence.
But on Monday, Mr Wilson submitted seven character references for Morris, which were tendered in the case.
One came from Association of Independent Schools executive director Cheryl Salter, and another came from former Central Land Council chair Matthew Palmer.
Judge Hopkins said the references tendered, which showed positive contributions to communities in the Territory, were in “stark contrast” to what Morris was found guilty of.
At the conclusion of the sentencing, Morris again stared ahead, where Judge Hopkins had sat, as everyone left court.
One person leaving could be heard calling the verdict “unbelievable”.
Morris gave no comment when either entering or leaving court on Thursday, where local media were waiting for him.
Outside, supporters of Morris were pleased with the result, while others seemed to be in disbelief.
One supporter, outside court, said Morris only “tried to help people” and alleged “Gavin was set up”.
Those seemingly against the verdict did not want to provide comment when approached by the NT News.
Originally published as Gavin Morris, once principal of Yipirinya School, given suspended sentence
