7 May 2015

Former teacher on trial in Auckland

11:35 am on 7 May 2015

A former teacher accused of performing an indecent act in a classroom of a well-known Auckland school has gone on trial.

Auckland District Court

The trial is set down for the day at the Auckland District Court. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

The man, who denies the charge, has interim name suppression, and is no longer teaching.

Crown prosecutor Nick Webby has told the Auckland District Court that a student went to see the teacher during a lunch break in 2013.

When he found the door locked, he got another student to give him a boost so he could look through the window.

Mr Webby said the student saw the teacher looking at pornography on a school laptop computer and masturbating.

The teacher's lawyer Richard Earwaker said his client denied the charge and the issue of whether the classroom was a public place would also be an issue for the judge to consider.

The trial before Judge Kiernan has been set down for the day and will hear evidence from nine witnesses.