Reference #03

Hmmm... another reference to a Victor. This time not in such a good light...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abuser-told-victim-its-in-my-nature/2005/09/07/1125772572505.html

Abuser told victim: 'It's in my nature'

September 7, 2005 - 4:15PM

A renowned piano teacher accused of sexually abusing two of his students told one of the boys he did it because it was "in his nature", a Sydney court was told today.

Professor Victor Makarov has pleaded not guilty in the NSW District Court to five charges of homosexual intercourse with a minor, four counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred in the late 1990s.

One of the alleged victims told the court today that Makarov had not denied the incidents when he confronted him over the assaults three years after they took place.

"I said 'I hate you for what you have done to me and I'll never forgive you'," the former student, who is now a young man and cannot be named, told the court.

"He said 'I can't help it, it's in my nature'."

Makarov migrated to Australia from the Ukraine in 1998 to take up a position as head of piano studies at the Australian Institute of Music in inner-Sydney Surry Hills.

The witness said it was here that one of the alleged incidents took place.

He told the court he had been practising late one evening when Makarov approached him, took him into a dark corner and performed oral sex on him.

On another occasion, away from the institute, he said Makarov had performed oral sex on him and another student consecutively.

He said Makarov would often try to kiss and hug him and would also hassle him about why he was not homosexual.

"He was always trying to make me like gays," the man told the court.

"He would talk about it often, he would say 'Why don't you like gays? They are beautiful'."

Makarov had also made him watch a gay pornographic film and look at homosexual images and videos on the internet, the former student said.

Cross-examining, defence barrister Stephen Russell said the question about the alleged incidents was that, if they occurred, why had they not affected the student's performances.

Mr Russell said at the same time the student had gone on to perform at the highest level at many concerts and competitions.

"In the beginning I was shocked, I cried many times," the alleged victim told the court.

"(But) he was a good teacher, he taught me the piano good."

The hearing before Judge Penelope Hock continues.

AAP