Man accused of pimping 12-yr-old daughter

The High Court at Auckland. File photo / Dean Purcell

A father was paid $40 by three men who sexually assaulted his 12-year-old daughter in a store car park in south Auckland, a court was told today.

The 37-year-old father-of-eight arranged for the attack to take place, the Crown has alleged in the High Court at Auckland.

He was seen talking to three men at McDonald's in Manukau, then forced his daughter to go to the men, who placed her up against a wall in a Farmer's car park and held her there, the court was told.

One man masturbated against her, while another man held her down and kissed her neck.

The father eventually got out of his car and told them to stop. He was paid $40 then spent the cash on cannabis in Otahuhu after his daughter's ordeal was over.

The man and a 33-year-old woman, who both have name suppression, are charged with three counts of assault on a child, eight charges of cruelty to a child and one charge of intentional damage to a Housing New Zealand home in Manurewa.

The man is also charged with sexual conduct with his then 12-year-old daughter and injuring her with intent by inflicting repeated blows with a broom. He is also charged with two counts of assault on his children. All charges related to events between January 2005 and September 2007.

The cruelty charges include wilfully ill-treating the eight children in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering, physical and mental abuse, generating a climate of fear, providing unsuitable housing, causing and maintaining poor hygiene and allowing them to go hungry.

The man pleaded guilty to one assault charge, while all other charges are denied.

A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in today for the trial, which is expected to last two weeks.

Prosecutor Katie Hogan told the jury the pair were parents of eight children, aged two to 14.

The Housing New Zealand house the couple moved into in February 2005 was brand new. Within two months, damage to the property was evident. The carpet had become black, there was faeces on the wall and toilet, and a terrible smell, she said.

The couple had received notices from Housing New Zealand about the poor state of the property.

"The children were exposed to violence, alcohol and drugs. The accused provided their children with poor living conditions, and the older children had to care for the younger children.

"Four of the eldest children were punched in the face and stomach, sometimes with weapons such as brooms, cords and belts.

"On one occasion, a broom was used on the eldest child. She was 'given a hiding', in the words of the other children.

"Her father hit her eight or nine times. Her arms were swollen and he punched her in the stomach. He kept her out of school, and put her between the ceiling and roof so her injuries could not be seen," Ms Hogan said.

A total of 22 witnesses will be called, including the five eldest children, their teachers and police involved in the case.

The children will give evidence via CCTV and video interviews with them from September 2007 will be played to the court.

Paul Borich, representing the father, said the eldest daughter would tell the jury a "series of lies and exaggerations".

"The complainant has grabbed lots of little things and made it far more serious. It starts from an incident when she was struck with a broom in an exercise of discipline," Mr Borich said.

He added the pimping out of the daughter by her father "simply did not happen".

John Munro, defending the mother, said she "vigorously denies" all the charges. He said she was a mother of eight children who was simply "doing her best".

Proceeding.

- NZPA