Christopher David Barnes: Mum gives evidence in trial of man charged with alleged sexual assault at Guildford West
A mother whose son was allegedly sexually assaulted by his teacher at a gym told a court the instructor was invited to a family function because she considered him a role model. Warning: Graphic content.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A mother whose son was allegedly sexually assaulted at Fearless Martial Arts Gym in Guildford West by his teacher Christopher Barnes told a court the instructor was invited to a family function because she trusted him as a role model, a court has heard.
The woman told Parramatta District Court that Mr Barnes and some of his family members attended the function in 2019 before the alleged incident “because they were like family … they were like role models”.
Mr Barnes has pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual intercourse with a child between 10 and 14 years, aggravated intentionally doing a sexual act with a child between 10 and 16 years, intentionally sexually touch child under 10 years and two counts of intentionally sexually touch a child between 10 and 16 years.
He was arrested on January 12 last year and is fighting allegations he carried out sexual offences on two boys he taught at the gym between early 2019 and late 2020.
During the mum’s evidence, the court heard how her child, who is the complainant in the sexual assault allegation, started to make excuses about not wanting to train at the Fairfield Rd warehouse-style gym before she learned about the alleged incident.
“He just didn’t want to be there,’’ she said.
“I kept saying ‘You have to train, you have to look after your health, you can’t be lazy’.’’
Earlier, defence barrister Troy Edwards questioned her son about whether the alleged bathroom assault occurred at all.
“Master Chris was never inside the bathroom with you with the door shut. Do you agree, disagree, or do you not remember?,’’ Mr Edwards said.
The boy disagreed.
The court also heard how the boy could not remember if it was his underwear or his pants that he removed in the bathroom, where Mr Barnes also allegedly touched the boy’s penis.
Citing an April 2021 interview between the boy and police, the defence said the boy told investigators that Mr Barnes was trying to carry out the alleged assault of sticking his finger up his anus but did not because he got distracted by the class getting out of control.
The question was repeated to the child several times.
Mr Edwards asked: “Do you know the difference between trying to do something and actually doing it?”
The boy said he understood.
Under cross examination, the barrister suggested to the boy that he changed his version of events from his first and second interview with police after his mum met with investigators.
Mr Edwards asked: “Did you ever talk to your mum about having a meeting that she had with the prosecution or the police before the second interview?
“Did you have a conversation that the prosecution was thinking about dropping one of the charges against Master Chris?’’
The complainant responded: “I’m telling you I don’t know. I don’t think so.’’
He told the court he wanted to return to the police station because he had “forgotten some things” to tell police since his first interview.
The trial was adjourned twice when the boy became upset.
A child witness who took to the stand told the court the main male bathroom door where the alleged assault occurred was locked because another student had told her it was locked when they went to get the boy.
The court heard how the girl alleged the boy was pressured into going into the bathroom with Mr Barnes after he kept telling him “no’’.
The girl refuted Mr Edwards’ suggestion that there was no lock on the bathroom, saying the door included a keyhole lock.
She said the boy returned to class in a “drowsy mood, like, not been bothered to do anything, like he was annoyed’’.
The trial before Judge Robert Montgomery continues.
MORE NEWS
More Coverage
Parramatta federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton makes maiden speech in Parliament
‘Insulting’: Grace Tame Foundation pushes for big change to court system
A push to stop pedophiles using “good character” references in courts has sparked opposition from the state’s top prosecutors, but victim advocates say the practice is “insulting” and “retraumatising”.
‘I could feel the heat’: Man’s belongings burn in ‘huge’ house fire
A southwest Sydney resident has described how he escaped from a “huge” house fire, which burned all his belongings and damaged the home he had only just moved into.