A jury heard lengthy silences yesterday as a young complainant was called to testify in the trial of a caregiver alleged to have sexually abused disabled children in his care.
The male defendant, who cannot be named, is standing trial in the Napier District Court this week after allegedly abusing children and youth with significant impairments and disabilities over the course of several years.
Yesterday a youth in his care struggled as she told the court the man sexually touched her for the first time when she was 10-years-old and that this touching soon progressed to full intercourse.
The man is charged with five counts of sexually exploiting a person with a significant impairment, six of rape, two of indecent assault and three each of attempted sexual violation and sexual conduct with a child under 12-years-old.
On Monday Crown prosecutor Jo Rielly opened the Crown's case by telling the jury the four complainants were each placed in the man's care by a variety of agencies including Child, Youth and Family and Idea Services.