Music teacher Janelle Fletcher goes on trial for alleged child sexual abuse

3 days ago

A music teacher allegedly dared two teenage girls to kiss each other and texted one of them 'I love you, I'm so happy,' a court has heard.
Janelle Colville Fletcher is standing trial in the South Australian District Court, having pleaded not guilty to grooming two girls and sexually abusing one of them while in a position of authority.
She is alleged to have abused the girl in various locations some years ago and to have communicated with her and another teenage girl to make them amenable to sexual activity.
In his opening statement, prosecutor Chris Allen argued before Judge Joana Fuller that Ms Fletcher had engaged in 'two or more' sexual acts with one of the girls, who was aged in her mid to late teens when the alleged offending began.
Some of the alleged offending happened when the two girls and Ms Fletcher were alone together in a room, the prosecution said.
In one instance, the prosecution allege Ms Fletcher, 40, was alone in a room with the two girls and performed a lap dance on a chair.
She then allegedly 'dared' the two girls to kiss each other and asked if they would 'date' each other.
That same night, Mr Allen said Ms Fletcher then spent time alone with one of the girls and touched her genital area.
The alleged grooming and abuse of the girl then went on for months, the prosecution said.
Ms Fletcher exchanged text messages and emails with the girl, writing 'I'm so in love with you, you make me so happy', the prosecution said.
She is also alleged to have texted: 'Right now we can't be open. We have to continue as we are, in secret … I don't know if that is fair on you.'
The abuse happened at residential properties and in a car, the prosecution claimed.
There was also a 'movie night', where the two of them took photographs together and kissed, Mr Allen said.
The prosecution alleged Ms Fletcher offered 'numerous gifts' to the girl on her birthday.
Ms Fletcher also actively tried to hide her behaviour, the prosecution argued, in one case instructing the girl to alter her name in her phone contact book.
The girl ended the relationship after some months, the court heard.
Both of Ms Fletcher's alleged victims are expected to give evidence at the trial.
Ms Fletcher, from Trinity Gardens in Adelaide's inner east, was formerly the head of music at Tabor College, but she no longer works there.
The alleged offending does not relate to Tabor College.
The trial continues.

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Vehicle discovered in cold-case search for missing teen

The Advertiser

2 days ago

The Advertiser

Vehicle discovered in cold-case search for missing teen

Police divers scouring a river bed have found a vehicle that could be linked to the suspected murder of a 15-year-old girl who disappeared 25 years ago. Melissa Trussell and her mother Rosemary Brown, 33, were last seen leaving their South Australian home at Blair Athol about 2.30am on May 13, 2000. Rosemary's body was located in the Garden Island mangroves weeks later but Melissa's body was never found. Police launched a fresh search on Friday in the Port River estuary at Garden Island in the hope of uncovering Melissa's remains to provide her family with closure. They had a breakthrough when locating a vehicle that could be linked to the case. A section of the front grille was retrieved which could help with identification of the vehicle. Officers are investigating whether the vehicle is connected to the murder of the mother and the suspected killing of the teenager. Divers scoured a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the island's northern side. "This search really does show to everyone that we never give up trying to find answers to those investigations," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters. Det Fielke did not know why the area near Garden Island was not searched 25 years ago but a cold case review identified it as a place for further investigation. A number of exhibits obtained in the initial investigation have been resubmitted for forensic testing to see if modern technology might result in new leads. Police believe Melissa and her mother were murdered in 2000, but no one has been charged, or any motive revealed. Det Fielke hopes someone would come forward and explain what happened to the pair. "Twenty-five years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people's allegiances change over time, people forget about it, some people don't forget about it," he said. "We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough." Melissa's father Barry Trussell earlier in July issued a plea for information to help provide closure on the 25th anniversary of Rosemary's body being found. "A parent shouldn't outlive their child … and for a long time Melissa's disappearance has messed me up," he said. "I'm hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case." A reward of $1 million is available to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of a suspect in Melissa's murder or the recovery of her remains. Up to $200,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for Rosemary's murder. Police divers scouring a river bed have found a vehicle that could be linked to the suspected murder of a 15-year-old girl who disappeared 25 years ago. Melissa Trussell and her mother Rosemary Brown, 33, were last seen leaving their South Australian home at Blair Athol about 2.30am on May 13, 2000. Rosemary's body was located in the Garden Island mangroves weeks later but Melissa's body was never found. Police launched a fresh search on Friday in the Port River estuary at Garden Island in the hope of uncovering Melissa's remains to provide her family with closure. They had a breakthrough when locating a vehicle that could be linked to the case. A section of the front grille was retrieved which could help with identification of the vehicle. Officers are investigating whether the vehicle is connected to the murder of the mother and the suspected killing of the teenager. Divers scoured a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the island's northern side. "This search really does show to everyone that we never give up trying to find answers to those investigations," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters. Det Fielke did not know why the area near Garden Island was not searched 25 years ago but a cold case review identified it as a place for further investigation. A number of exhibits obtained in the initial investigation have been resubmitted for forensic testing to see if modern technology might result in new leads. Police believe Melissa and her mother were murdered in 2000, but no one has been charged, or any motive revealed. Det Fielke hopes someone would come forward and explain what happened to the pair. "Twenty-five years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people's allegiances change over time, people forget about it, some people don't forget about it," he said. "We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough." Melissa's father Barry Trussell earlier in July issued a plea for information to help provide closure on the 25th anniversary of Rosemary's body being found. "A parent shouldn't outlive their child … and for a long time Melissa's disappearance has messed me up," he said. "I'm hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case." A reward of $1 million is available to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of a suspect in Melissa's murder or the recovery of her remains. Up to $200,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for Rosemary's murder. Police divers scouring a river bed have found a vehicle that could be linked to the suspected murder of a 15-year-old girl who disappeared 25 years ago. Melissa Trussell and her mother Rosemary Brown, 33, were last seen leaving their South Australian home at Blair Athol about 2.30am on May 13, 2000. Rosemary's body was located in the Garden Island mangroves weeks later but Melissa's body was never found. Police launched a fresh search on Friday in the Port River estuary at Garden Island in the hope of uncovering Melissa's remains to provide her family with closure. They had a breakthrough when locating a vehicle that could be linked to the case. A section of the front grille was retrieved which could help with identification of the vehicle. Officers are investigating whether the vehicle is connected to the murder of the mother and the suspected killing of the teenager. Divers scoured a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the island's northern side. "This search really does show to everyone that we never give up trying to find answers to those investigations," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters. Det Fielke did not know why the area near Garden Island was not searched 25 years ago but a cold case review identified it as a place for further investigation. A number of exhibits obtained in the initial investigation have been resubmitted for forensic testing to see if modern technology might result in new leads. Police believe Melissa and her mother were murdered in 2000, but no one has been charged, or any motive revealed. Det Fielke hopes someone would come forward and explain what happened to the pair. "Twenty-five years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people's allegiances change over time, people forget about it, some people don't forget about it," he said. "We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough." Melissa's father Barry Trussell earlier in July issued a plea for information to help provide closure on the 25th anniversary of Rosemary's body being found. "A parent shouldn't outlive their child … and for a long time Melissa's disappearance has messed me up," he said. "I'm hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case." A reward of $1 million is available to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of a suspect in Melissa's murder or the recovery of her remains. Up to $200,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for Rosemary's murder. Police divers scouring a river bed have found a vehicle that could be linked to the suspected murder of a 15-year-old girl who disappeared 25 years ago. Melissa Trussell and her mother Rosemary Brown, 33, were last seen leaving their South Australian home at Blair Athol about 2.30am on May 13, 2000. Rosemary's body was located in the Garden Island mangroves weeks later but Melissa's body was never found. Police launched a fresh search on Friday in the Port River estuary at Garden Island in the hope of uncovering Melissa's remains to provide her family with closure. They had a breakthrough when locating a vehicle that could be linked to the case. A section of the front grille was retrieved which could help with identification of the vehicle. Officers are investigating whether the vehicle is connected to the murder of the mother and the suspected killing of the teenager. Divers scoured a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the island's northern side. "This search really does show to everyone that we never give up trying to find answers to those investigations," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters. Det Fielke did not know why the area near Garden Island was not searched 25 years ago but a cold case review identified it as a place for further investigation. A number of exhibits obtained in the initial investigation have been resubmitted for forensic testing to see if modern technology might result in new leads. Police believe Melissa and her mother were murdered in 2000, but no one has been charged, or any motive revealed. Det Fielke hopes someone would come forward and explain what happened to the pair. "Twenty-five years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people's allegiances change over time, people forget about it, some people don't forget about it," he said. "We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough." Melissa's father Barry Trussell earlier in July issued a plea for information to help provide closure on the 25th anniversary of Rosemary's body being found. "A parent shouldn't outlive their child … and for a long time Melissa's disappearance has messed me up," he said. "I'm hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case." A reward of $1 million is available to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of a suspect in Melissa's murder or the recovery of her remains. Up to $200,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for Rosemary's murder.