Sex abuse led to death, says judge

A "contemptible" unemployed Levin man's sex abuse of a young friend of his daughter contributed to her death, a judge said yesterday.

The girl's family and friends wept in Palmerston North District Court as Gordon Schwartfeger, 42, was sentenced to seven and half years behind bars after pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual violation and guilty to performing an indecent act on the girl.

Judge Nevin Dawson said Schwartfeger moved to Levin in 1997 and his seven-year-old daughter became friendly with the victim.

The victim often stayed at Schwartfeger's home and went on family outings with him and he had become like a father figure to her.

The first offence occurred soon after the girl's ninth birthday and continued until she was 14. The girl has since died. About 20 of the girl's family, friends and supporters were at the court.

They wept as Judge Dawson read to the court from summaries of the offences.

Crown prosecutor Ben Vanderkolk said Schwartfeger was asked in a police video interview if he thought the victim had been enjoying what he was doing to her and replied: "She may have been". When asked again his answer was "yes".

"If I thought she didn't want it. I would have stopped," Schwartfeger said.

Defence lawyer Christopher Stevenson said Schwartfeger was always ashamed of what he had done immediately after the acts and pleaded guilty at an early stage.

He sought help for his problem from the Assembly of God church and did not want his behaviour to continue.

Judge Dawson read from a report that Schwartfeger had said he enjoyed the offending at the time but was ashamed afterwards and that he had denied being attracted to girls.

The victim had become depressed and was diagnosed as having post traumatic stress disorder and she was admitted to hospital at one stage because of it.

Judge Dawson said it was obvious that Schwartfeger's continued abuse of the victim was a causal link to her death.

"Quite frankly your continued offending is contemptible".

- HOROWHENUA-KAPITI CHRONICLE (LEVIN)