Brian Richard Cavanagh denies all charges as he takes the witness dock in Cairns District Court
A relief teacher accused of indecently touching a student several times in one of his classes is being tried in Cairns District Court.
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A relief teacher accused of indecently touching a student several times in one of his classes is being tried in Cairns District Court.
On Thursday the court heard that since he qualified in 1999, Brian Richard Cavanagh, 55, had been working as a teacher, first interstate and then later in Cairns.
He also worked in child safety for two-and-a-half years, part of which role was to look after vulnerable and at-risk children, the court heard. He pleaded not guilty to four charges of indecent treatment of a child at the beginning of the trial.
He was working as a relief teacher and it is alleged that he touched a girl indecently several times in one of his classes in 2021.
Mr Cavanagh worked at a variety of schools.
The complainant’s testimony was heard while the courtroom was closed, but Mr Cavanagh took the witness stand to give evidence about the allegations later in the day.
He told the court he did not know the complainant personally, and he had 22-24 students in the class.
He told the court the complainant came up to his desk while he was taking the roll and leant up against him and he told her to return to her desk. She came up again, he told the court, during the maths class.
“(At) the second question she came up to me and put her left arm on my right shoulder, and she came very close to me,” he testified.
Defence counsel James Sheridan asked if any other part of her body came into contact with him.
“Yes her left hip,” he told the court.
He said his right elbow touched her, as he had a pen in one hand and a book in the other.
“Did you at any stage grab her by the arm or hand?” Mr Sheridan asked.
“No.”
He told the court he did not touch the girl indecently or in any sexual way as was alleged, and neither did he ask the girl to come up to his desk.
When he was presented with the complaint the following day at school, which consisted of three typewritten lines, he told the court his reaction was one of shock.
In his cross-examination Crown prosecutor Matt Hancock put all of the allegations again to Mr Cavanagh, and he denied each one.
Mr Cavanagh was suspended as a teacher by the Education Department in 2021 because of the allegations.
The trial is being heard before Judge Dean Morzone KC.
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