Man stands trial for alleged abuse of girl during religious lessons in Adelaide’s western suburbs

A principal-like figure is standing trial for allegedly grooming and sexually abusing a young girl during weekly religious lessons in Adelaide’s west.

A principal-like figure is standing trial for allegedly grooming and sexually abusing a young girl, telling her rape was “a positive aspect of life”, during religious lessons in the western suburbs.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is standing trial charged with maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child from June 2018 until March 2020. He has pleaded not guilty.

During the trial’s opening day on Tuesday, prosecutors told a District Court jury the man gradually groomed the girl during weekly lessons held inside a local primary school gymnasium on Saturdays as part of a religious community.

The jury heard the man was one of the teachers who led the religious classes and was seen as a principal-like figure.

The court heard he took an interest in the “highly competitive” student’s work and began to take her outside of the gymnasium during the two-hour classes.

It is alleged they would go on walks together – unless parents or other people were present outside the gym – and during these walks the accused would allegedly touch the girl and discuss sexual things.

These allegedly included sexually touching her over her clothing.

Prosecution alleged the man would convince the girl to reach into his pants pocket for a “surprise”.

It is alleged sometimes there would be lollies inside – but others it would be empty and the girl would allegedly be urged to reach in further to feel his penis.

Prosecutors told the court the alleged victim would give evidence the offending happened “frequently” and was difficult to “differentiate” but some alleged incidents stuck in her memory because she remembered the “first time she had goosebumps”.

It is alleged the conversations were about her school work initially but progressed to sex-related subjects, such as how babies were made.

The man allegedly spoke to the victim about rape, describing it as a “positive aspect of life” that “taught its victims a range of life skills and how to handle pain” making them “stronger”.

The court heard the man encouraged the girl to “separate herself” from her parents and family because they would “restrict her” as she grew up.

Prosecution said the victim told her father about the allegations who informed police three days later.

Defence told the court the question was if any of the alleged incidents had occurred at all and invited jury members to keep an open mind to what they would hear about the alleged victim.

They said the jury would hear about the girl’s dreams and alleged auditory hallucinations and by focusing on those aspects, the jury could never “be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt”.

The trial continues on Wednesday.