Ex-Adelaide Hills Cornerstone College teacher Symon James Gogel sexually abused student, court told
Prosecutors are seeking to find an old journal kept by the alleged victim of an Adelaide Hills teacher charged with unlawful sex, a court has heard.
A young female student was sexually abused 17 years ago by a former teacher who, until July this year, taught at the largest school in the Adelaide Hills, a court has heard.
Ex-Cornerstone College teacher Symon James Gogel, 55, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under 14 years. He is yet to enter a plea.
In front of Magistrate Christopher Smolicz, prosecution request an adjournment – submitting there were still some outstanding materials, including a journal belonging to the alleged victim.
“The main two materials we are still awaiting from the investigating officer is, firstly, references to some journal entries apparently made by the alleged victim,” they said.
“Secondly, we’ve requested a statement from the recent complainant. I would submit that the presence – or otherwise – of those materials would go some way to making a charge determination in any event, but certainly they would be relevant to considering the question of how the charges proceed – if they do proceed.
“I understand the complainant is now in her 20s.”
Previously, prosecutors alleged Mr Gogel, of Mount Barker, committed the offence of unlawful sexual intercourse in the Adelaide Hills in early 2008.
The allegations came to light in June, when Cornerstone College principal Thomas Brennan wrote to parents.
He wrote that a staff member had been charged and suspended, with there being “no evidence” any current students were impacted by the allegations.
Just two hours after The Advertiser reported Mr Gogel’s first court hearing in July, Mr Brennan again wrote to parents saying his “employment had been terminated”.
On Thursday, both Mr Gogel and his defence counsel offered no comment as they left court.
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Originally published as Ex-Adelaide Hills Cornerstone College teacher Symon James Gogel sexually abused student, court told
