Ex-Yipirinya School principal Gavin Morris found guilty on four out of five count of assault in Alice Springs
The former principal, who ran a school which specialises in teaching Indigenous children in Alice Springs, assaulted a number of his students, the judge found – but he was not found guilty on all counts. Read the latest.
A former principal has been found guilty on all but one count of assaulting students in Alice Springs while running a school which specialises in teaching Indigenous kids.
Gavin Morris, 46, faced five counts of assault, which were aggravated as the victims were aged 12, 8, 9, 12, and 13.
Judge Anthony Hopkins delivered the verdict in the Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday.
Morris was found guilty of choking an eight-year-old boy in count one, in what Judge Hopkins called a “traumatic incident”.
“I find the force was so significant and sustained as to inhibit (the boy’s) breathing, resulting in him experiencing pain, breathlessness, panic and fear,” Judge Hopkins said in relation to count one.
On counts two and three, Morris was found guilty of dragging two boys, aged eight and nine, by their ears.
“I find that the nature and extent of the force applied to each child’s ear was such as to shock eyewitnesses and cause pain and fear to the children,” Judge Hopkins said.
On count four, Morris was found guilty of choking a 13-year-old boy, but on count five, he was found not guilty of choking a 12-year-old boy.
A non-publication order on the case prevents any of the boys being named – all of whom were of Aboriginal descent and students at Yipirinya School.
Some had not returned to school since the assaults, Judge Hopkins said.
The children who gave evidence were deemed credible and reliable by Judge Hopkins, and gave “relatively detailed” accounts of a “traumatic incident”.
At the time of the assaults, which the court heard occurred in 2023, Mr Morris was principal of Yipirinya School.
He was charged in August 2024, and pleaded not guilty at his first court mention.
He has been out on bail for a year while his matter was before the court, and is no longer employed by the school.
After he was found guilty, Judge Hopkins continued Morris’ bail, allowing him to leave once the verdict was delivered.
Mr Morris remained seated in court for a number of minutes after the verdict was read.
Heading into court on Wednesday, Mr Morris remarked it was a “big day” but did not provide any further comment.
When leaving, he again said it had been a “big day” and was going to phone his family when he was alone.
He held his head high when walking out of court, and said very little to media waiting outside for him.
In court, he sat at the back of the bar table, staring straight ahead at Judge Hopkins as he read out his decision.
In the gallery, the four bench seats for the public was full with local lawyers and some staff from Yipirinya School.
The findings come after a 10-day judge-only trial in the Alice Springs Local Court, which began on September 1.
During the trial – much of which was closed to the public as the children gave evidence – more than 15 witnesses gave evidence.
Mr Morris will return to court for sentencing on December 8.
Originally published as Ex-Yipirinya School principal Gavin Morris found guilty on four out of five count of assault in Alice Springs
