Soldier faces court martial on indecent assault charge

CHRISTCHURCH: A New Zealand Defence Force soldier is facing a court martial, charged with indecent assault, after allegedly groping a junior subordinate at a function.

Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps staff sergeant Jeremy Leslie Boyd is accused of an indecent assault at Burnham Military Camp, 30km south of Christchurch, on September 22, 2016.

The senior noncommissioned officer has been charged under the Crimes Act 1961 with an alternative accusation of common assault.

Boyd also faces a charge of failing to comply with written orders contrary to the Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971, which alleges that at Burnham Military Camp 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 cutoff’’, or words to that effect.

That also has 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 denies the charges and a court martial began at Burnham yesterday.

The trial is expected to take up to three days.

Boyd is not currently based at Burnham, the NZDF says.

Family and friends supported him at the hearing yesterday.

Military prosecutor Sublieutenant Natacha Wisstt said the case involved Boyd acting in a sexually inappropriate manner towards a junior subordinate.

Boyd is alleged to have told her 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 is 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 is alleged to have approached her with a drink he bought her.

He is 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 cutoff’’.

Sub Lt Wisstt said it is alleged that Boyd used ‘‘force’’ towards the victim.

Boyd’s lawyer Elizabeth Bulger said he denies all charges, saying there was no assault, indecent or otherwise.

Boyd says the allegation of indecent assault is ‘‘a fabrication, for reasons best known to the complainant’’.

Referring to the 2018 allegation, he says she has ‘‘at best misinterpreted’’ his comments, or even deliberately misinterpreted the conversation to make it sound sleazy and crass.

Boyd is expected to give evidence during the trial and will deny making any sexual comments towards the alleged victim or making any physical contact with her.

The court martial, before Judge Kevin Riordan, continues. — The New Zealand Herald