Court martial: soldier found guilty of indecent assault
CHRISTCHURCH: A New Zealand Defence Force soldier has been found guilty of groping a female subordinate at a function.
Staff Sergeant Jeremy Leslie Boyd, of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps, denied committing an indecent assault at Burnham Military Camp, 30km south of Christchurch, on September 22, 2016.
The senior noncommissioned officer faced a court martial at Burnham after being charged under the Crimes Act 1961 — with an alternative accusation of common assault.
Boyd also faced a charge of failing to comply with written orders contrary to the Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971, which alleged that at Burnham on December 5, 2018 he failed to set an example of good conduct by saying to a junior subordinate, ‘‘this is my last chance to get you wasted, corporals are my cut off’’, or words to that effect.
That also had an alternative charge, of ‘‘doing an act likely to prejudice service discipline’’ contrary to the Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971, again at Burnham, more than two years later, on December 5, 2018.
The soldier denied the charges but was found guilty after two days of evidence.
He was no longer based at Burnham, the NZDF said.
At the outset of the trial on Monday, military prosecutor Sublieutenant Natacha Wisstt said the case involved Boyd acting in a sexually inappropriate manner towards a female subordinate.
Boyd was alleged to have told the woman in a computer room in 2015, ‘‘I so want to grab your arse right now, but I know I shouldn’t’’.
On September 22, 2016 they were both at a function farewelling a civilian member of the unit.
After a formal dinner, they moved to the warrant officers and sergeants’ mess bar.
It was alleged that when she was playing pool, Boyd approached her and squeezed her breast for few seconds, made eye contact, and then went away.
A second allegation came on December 5, 2018 at another function in the same officers’ mess.
She was standing at a table when Boyd was alleged to have approached her with a drink.
He was said to have congratulated her on a recent promotion.
They consumed the drink and Boyd allegedly told her, ‘‘This is my last chance to get you wasted, corporals are my cut off’’.
Sublt Wisstt said it was alleged that Boyd used ‘‘force’’ towards the victim.
Boyd’s counsel Elizabeth Bulger said he denied all charges, saying there was no assault, indecent or otherwise.
Boyd said the allegation of indecent assault was a ‘‘fabrication, for reasons best known to the complainant’’.
Referring to the 2018 allegation, he said she had ‘‘at best misinterpreted’’ his comments, or even deliberately misinterpreted the conversation to make it sound sleazy and crass.
He had merely been trying to offer career advice to a junior subordinate, Ms Bulger said.
Boyd will be sentenced at a later date. — The New Zealand Herald