Wagga District Court delivers judgement for man accused of multiple sexual offences against two children
A Riverina man has been found guilty of sexual offences against two children, even telling one of them: “This will be fun, don’t worry, this isn’t wrong, everyone does this”.
The Wagga News
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A Riverina man in his 60s has been found guilty of committing more than 20 sexual offences against two children for seven years.
In November 2018, the man pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse with a child and 19 counts of aggravated indecent assault.
Earlier this week, he was found guilty of all charges after a judge-alone trial.
Court documents state he committed nine of the offences against one child between 2003 and 2005 and the other offences against another child in 2010 2015.
The second victim came forward after the man had been committed for trial.
All offences were committed at various homes of the man and his wife.
In one incident, the offender told a victim: “This will be fun, don’t worry, this isn’t wrong, everyone does this”.
Another two offences happened when one of the victims stayed over and slept in the same bed as the offender and his wife.
The court also heard that he showed the children pornographic material.
In 2015, the older victim was cleaning the room of the younger child and found a book containing notes about allegations against the man.
According to the older child, the younger victim was “crying, like inconsolable” when they were talking about the book. One note reads that she hated the offender.
The notes also read: “I dream that I am going to get stolen and raped then killed but not just in a dream, but real life”.
“Dear book – I keep having scary dreams like it, the zombie apocolips (apocalypse), and kills my family except me and (the offender) and (the offender) makes me have sex with him, like I all was (always) do in real life.”
It was after these notes were found that both victims told another family member about the offender that led to criminal proceedings.
During the trial, the two victims gave evidence.
Defence lawyer David Barron made a number of arguments, all directed to the ultimate point that the complaints are false as the allegations are false.
During the extensive cross-examination about the book, it was put to the older victim that she had “simply made up or fabricated the evidence about finding the book” because of jealousy issues.
It was also put to her that she and the younger victim had “put their heads together” or collaborated to make up those notes.
The victim repeatedly denied those allegations.
Judge Lerve dismissed the allegations the offences were fabricated, saying “there seems to me to be a real ring of truth” about the notes.
“They can be seen as a young girl crying out for help or on the other hand simply telling the book,” he said.
In relation to the evidence of the younger victim, he said it was difficult to disagree with Crown solicitor Virginia Morgan’s description of the victim’s account as “extraordinarily detailed”.
The offender had also given evidence and called on witnesses, including his wife.
He argued that he simply did not have the opportunity to commit a number of the offences because he maintained that he worked particularly long hours — up to 14 hours a day.
Ms Morgan argued that his evidence was false and misleading because his pay and log records did not show the hours he claimed.
Judge Lerve also said the offender was “not an impressive witness” and that he on occasion was “quite evasive”.
He said that while he carefully considered all of the submissions made on behalf of the offender, he accepted “the complainants beyond reasonable doubt”.
The man is due to appear in Wagga District Court on May 29 for sentencing.