Predator assertion rebuffed

A LAWYER has told a court the man accused of molesting his stepdaughter was “nothing but a provider, a great dad and a great husband”.

Defence barrister Scott Geeves made his closing address in Townsville District Court yesterday, on the fourth day of the Burdekin man’s trial.

The man has pleaded not guilty to maintaining a sexual relationship with a child, two counts of rape and three counts of indecent treatment of a child.

The acts were allegedly committed from 2010 onwards, when the girl was aged 13 to 17.

Mr Geeves said it had been a close and loving family until mid- 2014 when the woman “shacked up” with her new boyfriend, to her relatives’ disapproval.

She said the woman agreed, when questioned in court, that she had a “close and loving” relationship with her mother and stepfather until 2014.

“How can that be, when she says that, right up until the end of 2013, she was being sexually assaulted by her ( step) father?” Mr Geeves said.

“It doesn’t make sense. It’s absurd, you might think.”

Mr Geeves said in April 2014 the alleged victim wrote a Facebook post saying she had the “greatest most amazing parents in the world. ( She) went on: ‘ And Dad, I’m sorry that I didn’t say goodbye this morning ... I know I don’t always show it, but I appreciate everything that you have done for me, both past and present’.”

Mr Geeves said after the woman’s relationship began, she chose to cut off contact with her family. She made a statement to police in April last year.

Mr Geeves said the accused man’s wife and family members were in court, supporting him.

“He’s not a sexual predator, he’s a dad. He’s a dad that just wanted the best for his daughter. A dad that had, all his life, provided for that family,” he said.

Mr Geeves said that in September 2013, the woman underwent a psychological test in a job application and gave a response saying she had never been physically or sexually assaulted.

He said the woman had been “troubled” before the time the abuse allegedly began and was the victim of vicious and cruel school bullying.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Walklate has told the court the man regularly asked his stepdaughter for massages and would then touch her breasts and genitalia.

The trial today. is expected to continue