Posted on 04/28/2006 7:00:28 PM PDT by DBeers
CODY CHEUNG was 12 when his piano teacher, Neal Richard Winter, sexually abused him. It continued for five years while Winter ingratiated himself with Mr Cheung's family but, ashamed and afraid, he kept quiet.
Yesterday Mr Cheung wept as Winter was found guilty of 27 of 32 sexual offences against him and two other boys - including intercourse with two, then 12 and 14 - whom he tutored at his home between 1992 and 2002. The jury could not reach a verdict on five charges.
The Herald can now reveal there are many other victims, two of whom have spoken to us. Winter originally faced more than 400 charges of sex abuse on boys.
Yesterday, as the verdicts were read to the NSW District Court, sobs and sighs of relief rippled through the room in a cathartic outburst. "We did it," Mr Cheung whispered to himself, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Winter, who has taught at the University of Western Sydney, Trinity Grammar and Blacktown Boys High, sat with his back to the public. In an extraordinary response, jury members embraced the victims and their families outside amid cheering and applause.
Mr Cheung, 25, took the unusual step of revealing his identity to urge other boys to lift the veil of secrecy on homosexual assault and get help.
"For over half my life I've lived in fear of this pedophile and his threats against me," Mr Cheung told the Herald. "If there are kids out there and if they're going through it, don't be afraid to tell someone, someone that you trust, and to get help," he said.
"There's so much secrecy and shame associated with it, so if someone else who is going through it can see me and see that I've been through it and I've come out, then I'd encourage them to get help and come forward."
Another victim, now 22, who did not want to be named, said he had been haunted for a decade by memories of Winter's abuse.
"He seems to think he's untouchable, he had a smirk on his face all the way until the verdict."
The men talk of Winter's incredible psychological hold on them. As boys they were confused about their sexuality, and he manipulated them to a point where they found it difficult to escape. When they did, he stalked them like a scorned lover.
He made them feel guilty, even ungrateful. His predatory behaviour began in startlingly similar fashion: a game of squash, a massage on the couch, then masturbation. He would take them to the theatre, then have them for sleepovers.
He was very close to their families: he ate at their homes, played the organ at their churches and took their sons on holidays.
Cody's mother, Gayle Cheung, described Winter as "like a brother" to her husband, David, and a "mentor" to her son. She is devastated by the betrayal.
"So many lives have been ruined by Neal Winter," she said.
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Phil Linkenbagh said Winter had been charged in August 1993 with sexually abusing four other boys, but was not committed to trial. He was charged again in 2002, 2003 and 2005 with more than 400 counts involving six boys. He was ordered to stand trial on four counts.
Police found 13 diaries at his home with the names of many other boys.
"There's no doubt there are many other victims," Sergeant Linkenbagh told the Herald.
During the trial, David Sadler contacted us and police, but did not make a formal statement. He told the Herald he was molested by Winter "a number of times" as a student at Blacktown Boys, when he was between 14 and 16.
"As soon as I was old enough to realise what a predatory pervert he is I've wanted him to pay for what he did to me and my friends," he said.
"He has been teaching for how long? Twenty years? Just on averages, we're talking about hundreds of possible victims," he said.
Thern Reynolds, 33, said he was so fed up with Winter, with whom he had a two-year sexual relationship from age 14, that he put a note saying "pervert" on his groin during a music class at Blacktown Boys.
"It was predatory. It wasn't just sexual abuse, it was mental abuse," he said. "I hate him … I look back on it now and it makes me cringe and it makes me realise how innocent you are as a child."
Sentencing submissions will be heard on May 26.
"I look back on it now and it makes me cringe and it makes me realise how innocent you are as a child."
I sometimes wonder how some people can become so perverted.Pity it took so long to get him stopped.
Why was this moved to General Chat?
Whoops...sometimes we get going so fast, we hit wrong thread...re-news'ed..
Thanks!
No sweat..;-)
"He has been teaching for how long? Twenty years? Just on averages, we're talking about hundreds of possible victims," he said."
This man should be in line for the electric chair.
Wait, does Australia have the death penalty? I know that the UK not having it is probably a bad sign.
PLEASE LET THEM HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY (AND THE SMARTS TO USE IT)!
No, basically, Australia does not have the death penalty - it's possible that it may still exist for high treason and for piracy with violence (legal opinions differ) but it certainly doesn't exist for any other crimes.
The last man executed in Australia was Ronald Ryan on February 3rd 1967, for the murder of a prison officer just over a year earlier during an escape from Pentridge Prison, Melbourne.
Why is this such a big deal? Just ad the P, for pederast, to the GLSEN alliance and market it to kids in school, scream bigot and pederastophobe at the objectors, get Hollywood's help to promote the deviant behavior, and win the hearts of sensitive people everywhere. Dripping SARC.
(On the odd chance that there is still hope for his soul I pray that he be saved and changed. However, I still hope that his time on this earth will be short. God, Please save him and change him but stop him from hurting anyone else)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.