Teen who accused a Dunedin man of molestation questioned over bedroom visits

The girl acknowledged going to Evan Hedley Smith's room made no sense, but said her claims were "100 per cent true". Photo / Getty Images

A teenager who accused a Dunedin man of hundreds of acts of molestation admitted she would not have repeatedly visited his bedroom if he was doing "horrible things" to her.

She acknowledged going to Evan Hedley Smith's room so often made no sense in the light of the alleged sexual abuse, but she maintained her claims were "100 per cent true".

The 62-year-old painter is on trial at the Dunedin District Court charged with six counts of indecent assault and two of rape, all of which are representative of multiple instances.

The alleged sex acts spanned more than 18 months and the complainant said she was being molested as often as four times a week.

Defence counsel Anne Stevens said that meant there could have been 400 occasions.

Under cross-examination yesterday, the girl confirmed she would voluntarily go into the man's bedroom late at night.

"If he did something that made you feel anxious and uncomfortable, you wouldn't go back would you?" Stevens asked.

"I agree," the complainant said.

"It makes no sense for you to go into his room three or four nights a week if he's doing horrible things to you. Do you agree it makes no sense?" the defence lawyer asked.

"Yes," the girl said.

"This is a load of rubbish isn't it? It's just not true?" Stevens continued.

But the complainant stood by her version of events.

Stevens told her she would not be in trouble if she admitted the story had been made up.

The girl refused to budge.

"It's 100 per cent true," she said.

After being confronted by her mother in April 2017, the girl said she had been sexually assaulted.

Police became involved and searched Smith's bedroom, the court heard.

Six used condoms found in a plastic bag he used as a bin were sent for forensic examination.

Two tested positive for his DNA, two for the complainant's DNA and two matched both their genetic profiles.

Smith flatly denied sexual offending and claimed he used the condoms because he was "waking up wet".

The complainant said she had blown up condoms like a balloon at least once.

Stevens told the jury that would explain the presence of the girl's DNA.

The girl's video interview was played for jurors yesterday.

When asked about how she felt after being raped, she replied: "Fine".

There was a suggestion the girl had threatened to make a false claim against Smith if he did not buy her something from The Warehouse.

She denied the conversation had ever taken place.

The trial continues.