Kelowna music instructor denies inappropriate touching at sexual assault trial
A Kelowna, B.C., music instructor informed a Provincial Court docket choose he solely adjusted a younger pupil’s posture whereas sitting collectively on a piano bench at his dwelling, and denied ever touching the kid in an inappropriate means.
Neil Nein-Nein Wong, 55, made the statements underneath questioning as he sat within the witness field on Friday morning, on the second day of his trial on fees of sexual assault and sexual interference.
Wong has pleaded not responsible to the costs.
On Thursday the alleged sufferer, a baby Wong taught weekly piano classes to for a interval of about eight months in 2021, informed the courtroom Wong inappropriately touched them a number of occasions through the personal classes.
CBC Information is just not publishing the gender or age of the kid to guard their identification.
Wong denied the allegations underneath questioning from Crown and defence attorneys whereas on the witness stand.
Wong informed the courtroom in April 2022 he had a buyer base of 25 piano college students that shortly dropped to solely two after the RCMP introduced prison fees towards him.
He informed the courtroom he had a complete of 27 classes with the kid that ended abruptly when the scholar’s father texted him in January 2022, saying the kid now not needed to proceed studying piano.
Scholar initiated hugs, courtroom informed
Wong learn out the daddy’s ultimate textual content to him in courtroom which acknowledged partly, “We admire your effort and time over the previous few months and want you all the perfect.”
Wong mentioned he responded to the daddy that he was shocked because the youngster had progressed so properly with their taking part in.
In cross examination, Crown lawyer Murray Kaay advised Wong inappropriately touched the kid after they hugged throughout or after their classes.
“[They] initiated a hug and I responded in type as most adults would do by hugging the kid again,” Wong mentioned, denying the contact was sexual.
“Once more, in my thoughts that might not be inappropriate.”
Wong testified he spoke to the kid’s father after the scholar hugged him throughout their first piano lesson as a result of he was uncomfortable with it.
Wong mentioned the daddy reassured him the cuddling was okay.
“That is how they had been as a household. That is how they greeted one another,” Wong mentioned. “I accepted that as pretty regular behaviour within the household.”
The coed initiated hugs with him a few dozen occasions over the eight months of classes, in accordance with Wong.
Kaay requested Wong about his prior expertise as a instructor in public schooling and the idea of educators respecting college students’ bodily boundaries.
“Typically talking, lecturers endeavour to keep away from bodily contact with their college students, right?” Kaay requested.
“For worry of allegations akin to this,” Wong replied.
Earlier cost of voyeurism
What hasn’t come up on this trial is Wong’s departure from public schooling.
When he labored as a music instructor at a Kelowna highschool, Wong was charged with voyeurism of a pupil and sentenced to an 18-month conditional discharge.
Wong was suspended by College District 23 in 2013 and resigned from his place in 2015, in accordance with a instructor’s regulation department doc.
In 2016 Wong agreed to the cancelation of his educating certificates, in accordance with the choice.
The trial will proceed subsequent week with the Crown anticipated to name the kid’s father to the witness stand.
