A girl who says she was repeatedly raped for years was upset when she confided in her friends and family, a court has heard.
The man, in his 30s, is on trial at the Invercargill District Court this week facing five charges of doing an indecent act, two charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and two charges of rape.
The alleged offending occurred when the complainant was under the age of 12, in Invercargill and Wellington.
The defendant denied all allegations and said the complainant was lying.
His name and occupation are suppressed while the trial is ongoing.
Yesterday, the jury heard from friends and family of the complainant who she had told about the alleged incidents.
They all said when she explained the situation she was visibly upset.
"I tried to comfort her as much as I could. There was not much I could do," one witness said.
The girl’s brother gave evidence that before the allegations she never said anything about the defendant that would stick out to him.
"She hasn’t said anything notable," he said.
Then the witness was asked if he knew why he was at court.
"I am a witness and I have to give a statement, and that’s about all I know," he said.
"My sister was supposedly getting raped."
The complainant’s mother also gave evidence yesterday.
Under cross-examination, she explained her daughter accused the defendant of sexually assaulting her after the girl had argued with him.
The court heard that after the police left the complainant’s house, she said "that was easy".
She explained the comment was made because she believed they were going to be conducting an evidential interview.
The trial is being presided over by Judge Maria Pecotic and is expected to take until tomorrow.
