KEY POINTS:
One of seven alleged victims in the sex trial of an Auckland high school teacher broke down in the witness box today, sobbing through the rest of her testimony.
The teacher, Heremia Smith, 30, formerly head of Maori studies at Glenfield College, faces 11 charges of indecent assault involving a girl aged between 12 and 16.
He also faces one charge of sexual violation and two charges of sexual conduct with a person under 16.
The offences are alleged to have occurred between 2002 and 2005.
The complainant in the most serious count - sexual violation - gave evidence in Auckland District Court this afternoon.
Now 17, she was 13 at the time of the alleged incident in July 2004 and is the only one of the complainants not to have been a pupil at the college.
She broke down when she was describing what she alleged happened at Smith's Glenfield home.
She said the relationship between her family and Smith at the time was "very close".
"He was like a brother," she said. "I trusted him."
She said she, her parents and two of her sisters were staying the night with Smith before flying out to Hawaii for a holiday.
During the evening, Smith led her to his bedroom and began massaging her, she said.
After locking the door, he had her masturbate him while holding his hand around hers. His other hand was inside her panties.
The activity stopped when she told him she was tired.
The girl said she went to sleep and woke up when she couldn't breathe.
She said found his penis in her mouth and leapt up when she realised what was happening.
However, she remained in the room with him and slept there that night.
"I was scared because I knew Dad was out there," she said.
"I didn't want to cause any hassles for him so I just stayed in the room."
In cross-examination, defence lawyer Gary Gotlieb said the bedroom door was not fitted with a lock.
The girl replied: "There was a lock on the door."
He also put it to her that: "You slept with him in the bedroom and nothing untoward happened at all."
She replied: "Something did happen."
The trial continues.
- NZPA
