WARNING: CONFRONTING DETAILS
A Queensland man subjected his two young children to “continued sexual abuse” and physical violence, threatening to kill his son and locking his daughter in a garage cupboard as punishment, a jury has been told.
The heinous allegations against the man – who cannot be named for legal reasons – were put to members of the jury on the first day of his trial at Brisbane District Court on Monday.
The man pleaded not guilty to a raft of serious charges including multiple counts of rape and indecent treatment of children.
All of the offences are alleged to have been committed against his young son and daughter more than a decade ago.
In her opening address, crown prosecutor Jennifer O’Brien said the children’s biological father lived with their mother at their home southeast of Brisbane where the abuse took place.
Both children are now adults.
Ms O’Brien told the jury they would hear evidence that the girl was around three or four-years-old when the abuse began and she would testify he performed “a frequent act” on her.
She described other vile acts the man allegedly committed and the abuse was so frequent the girl said it “became normal to her”.
“She will tell you at the start she used to put up a fight but after a while she didn’t,” Ms O’Brien said.
“She will tell you that the defendant at times told her: ‘It’s just our secret’ or ‘our special time’.”
Ms O’Brien said the jury would also hear confronting evidence about the sexual abuse the boy was subjected to.
“After doing these sexual acts with the boy, he (the man) would threaten to kill the boy if he told anyone,” Ms O’Brien told the jury.
The court was told the boy would give evidence that he was choked, punched and beaten with a glass bottle on different occasions.
Ms O’Brien said the acts of violence against the girl involved kicking her, pinching her nipple and being picked up by her armpits and dragged away.
Another act involved her being locked in a cupboard in the garage if “she did not comply”.
“The defendant exploited his relationship with his own children,” Ms O’Brien told the jury.
“He was in a position of trust to care for them however he used his children as the object of his sexual desire … he ultimately betrayed their trust.”
Ms O’Brien said the jury would hear the man’s defence counsel would argue that none of these things happened.
Multiple witnesses are expected to be called to give evidence over the four-day trial.
The trial before Judge Julie Dick continues.
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