Teen's caregiver abuse claims backed up in court

File photo / NZ Herald

Claims by a young man of being abused as a teen in Gisborne by his CYF-appointed caregiver were supported by two young women who were also placed in the house.

It was true the teenager was treated like a "bitch" (servant), regularly slapped and punched for no reason and locked in his room at night in a nappy, the young women told a Gisborne District Court jury yesterday.

They regretted not being able to help him sooner.

They said in evidence a social worker - who coincidentally was assigned to all of them - was disinterested and made minimal inquiries of them.

One described the social worker as "useless" and said she would spend visit times, when supposed to be checking on them, chatting with the accused who was a friend of hers - "and getting paid for it".

Elena Rosalind Hirini, 52, a worker in a high school special needs unit is on trial by jury in Gisborne District Court.

She has denied five counts of injuring with intent to injure, a charge of wounding with intent to injure, one of cruelty to a child and two of assault in relation to allegations made by the young man, who is now 20.

The two young women, who each gave evidence yesterday, were placed by CYF in Hirini's household at separate times but each was there when the complainant had already been resident for about a year or more. They were both the same age as the complainant.

Neither of the women were still in Hirini's care at the time of the July 3, 2012 incident.

Their evidence went towards supporting other charges.

Asked by the prosecution if she ever thought she should tell someone, the first woman, aged 14 at the time of her placement, said, "I wanted to, I really did, but I was just scared that I'd get the same treatment and I didn't want that".

She told her "nan" who thought the situation was unfair and rang the accused but it was fruitless.

"Rose told me, 'don't go telling anyone what goes around in this house' and I said okay and didn't say anything after that."

Asked if the complainant ever spoke to her about the abuse, she said, "he wanted to kill them but it was just because of the way he was treated. He wouldn't have done it, he is a good boy".

"He never made any comment like that in their presence. He never rebelled against any instruction or requirement."

The other woman, who was 15 when placed in the house, wept throughout her evidence and told the jury she did not want to be there.

"I'm just here because of [the complainant] and what happened to him."

Asked if she felt safe in the house, the second woman said, "yes, only because it wasn't happening to me, it was happening to [the complainant]".

The trial being heard by Judge Tony Adeane, is expected to end on Friday.