Geraldton man, 31, stands trial for alleged sexual abuse of teenage de-facto daughter in Mt Tarcoola home

A man is standing trial accused of sexually assaulting his teenage de-facto child while she was lying in bed in a Mount Tarcoola home with a friend in October 2021. The Geraldton District Court jury was told the 31-year-old accused man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was having relationship issues with the mother of the girl when he left their home address to stay with a friend. For unknown reasons, jurors heard the girl also left and stayed at the same house as the accused with her friend for about five days. The girl alleges she woke up to the accused with his hand inside her shorts and underwear. He pleaded not guilty in November last year to one count of knowingly sexually penetrating a child who was a de facto relative. The jury is expected to finish deliberating on Thursday.