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Allegations of Sexual
Abuse in NZ |
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A teenager sobbed continuously in
the witness box of the New Plymouth District Court yesterday as she recalled
being the victim of a sexual attack. The 15-year-old, who was 13 at the
time of the attack, was giving evidence on day one of the trial of Russell
Edward Jones (34), school groundsman, of New Plymouth. Jones denied two charges of
indecent assault and three charges of sexual violation when he appeared
before a jury and Judge Louis Bidois. The victim told the court she had
been staying at a New Plymouth address in February, 2005, when Jones came
into her bedroom. He put his hand firmly over her
mouth and grabbed her breasts before pulling her boxer shorts down. She said
Jones then pulled his pants down and attempted to rape her. The attack only stopped when Jones
became scared by a noise in the house and ran out. She told the court she had seen
Jones only once following the attack, when she encountered him working at New
Plymouth's Devon Intermediate. Earlier, defence counsel Andrew
Laurenson said the teenager was a mixed-up young woman who manipulated and
lied to get her own way. The whole incident, said Mr
Laurenson, had simply been a play fight and Jones' defence would centre on
the credibility of the witness. The trial is expected to finish
today. |
