Teacher attack 'not race-based'

'One in a million' incident

Last updated 08:29 11/03/2009

JOHN SELKIRK

ALONE: The father of 17-year-old Tae Wong Chung said his son had been feeling isolated and distressed because of the language barrier.

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The father of a Korean student who allegedly stabbed his teacher in front of a classroom full of students says the incident "broke his heart".

In a statement read to parents of students at Auckland's Avondale College this week, the father of 17-year-old Tae Wong Chung said his son had been feeling isolated and distressed because of the language barrier.

Parents were also told racism was not a motive for the attack on teacher Dave Warren who taught Japanese.

He was stabbed in the back in front of about 20 students as he wrote on a whiteboard on March 3.

Detective Sergeant Peter Steward told 60 parents, mainly Asian, Pacific Island and Maori, that after interviewing all the students they were satisfied it was not a race-based attack, The New Zealand Herald reported today.

College principal Brent Lewis had earlier told parents there had been inaccurate and inflammatory statements in the media about the college.

"The college and its community are concerned and distressed at these unfounded allegations in the media that the college tolerates racism."

He said Mr Warren had taught at the college for more than 20 years.

"We are surprised and concerned that he is being tried through the media."

Mr Lewis said Mr Warren had told him he held no malice towards his attacker and saw it as a "one in a million" incident.

He said Mr Warren was also concerned the accused attacker was in jail, and he was "very concerned for his welfare".

Chung has been charged with wounding Mr Warren with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and remanded in custody for a psychiatric report to appear again in a fortnight.

- NZPA

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