How Could You? Hall of Shame-New Zealand-Earl William Opetaia​

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From West Aukland, New Zealand, foster parent Earl William Opetaia​, 59, is “on trial for sexually abusing young boys has elected to give evidence in his own defence.”

” He denies 27 charges relating to the alleged sexual abuse of six boys in his care.

He is also accused of supplying drugs to some of the boys.

The Crown says Opetaia was paid by the state to care for some of the country’s most vulnerable children, but instead used drugs as rewards and threats of violence to sexually abuse them.

In defence, Opetaia’s lawyers say the boys have subsequently spent time in prison together and concocted stories of abuse in an effort to get compensation from the Accident Compensation Corporation.

One man has alleged he was sexually abused while Opetaia practised wrestling moves.

Another one alleged he drank bourbon and smoked cannabis with Opetaia before being sexually abused.

On Tuesday, Opetaia told the jury he ran a boxing gym and a home for boys in Kelston, West Auckland, and managed Waitakere Boxing Association from the same address.

The defendant told the jury he became an approved carer for boys aged between 13 and 16 and would care for about eight at a time.

“The way I structured the place it would be the last boys home they would be in,” Opetaia said.

He said he wanted to transition them into independence or back to their families.

While the boys were in his care they were encouraged to participate in the boxing, Opetaia said.

There were house rules printed out for the boys to follow including no bullies and no drugs or alcohol, the court heard.

The defendant said if the boys broke the rules they would be disciplined by going straight to bed.

“I didn’t bash them or threaten them or anything like that,” Opetaia said.

Some complainants have alleged there was a “culture of violence” at the boys home.

“I ruled the place with a strong arm, but I didn’t use my arm to bash them,” the defendant said.

Opetaia told the court he grew up “getting the hell bash out” of him and it didn’t help him.

Some of the boys Opetaia cared for had previously been exposed to drugs, alcohol and sexual assaults at previous homes.

“My place wasn’t like that,” he said.

Opetaia denied providing drugs to the boys, however admitted he provided cigarettes to some of the boys if they did push-ups.

When asked about the various complainants, Opetaia said he couldn’t remember many of them and denied there was a culture of violence at the home.

Earlier on Tuesday, Anoushka Bloem opened the defence case to the jury, saying Opetaia was an easy target after admitting sexually violating a young boy in 2017.

A wider police investigation was then launched totalling in 150 boys who had been in Opetaia’s care being interviewed. He was then arrested on the current charges.

“He was low-hanging fruit, ripe for the picking and right for targeting and making a false complaint,” Bloem said.

“He had done wrong and had admitted his guilt. Who would believe him now?”

The trial before Justice Ian Gault and a jury continues.”

Alleged foster care abuser denies providing drugs to boys in his care

[Stuff 3/9/21 by Catrin Owem]

“Earl William Opetaia ran an Auckland CYF’s home in the early-to-mid 2000s, caring for around 150 boys over a five-year-period.

Six of these boys accused him of indecently assaulting them. He faced 26 charges including sexual violation, indecent assault against boys under 16, threatening to kill and supply of cannabis. Seven other charges were dropped during the trial.

Today in the Auckland High Court, a unanimous jury found him guilty of 21 charges and not guilty of five.

The Crown’s case was that Opetaia ran a home where he sexually abused some of them and supplied some with drugs as a reward.

The complainants said it was so common they’d discuss amongst themselves who might be the next to be molested.

It was revealed during the trial Opetaia pleaded guilty and was sentenced for sexually violating a 14-year-old boy in 2014. That conviction was what sparked the police investigation which led to this prosecution.

The Defence argued that the boys – now men – saw Opetaia as “low-hanging fruit, ripe for the picking for false complaints” and made the claims up in the hope they’d be financially compensated.

Justice Gault remanded Opetaia in custody for sentencing on 14 May.”[2021]

Earl Opetaia guilty of sex offences against young boys in care

[RNZ 3/26/21 ]

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