A TEENAGE girl has told a court that a 43-year-old man touched her bottom and tried to kiss her on the mouth.
The 13-year-old – who was 12 at the time of the alleged incident – was giving evidence on the first day of the Magistrate’s Court trial of Joao Gomes Drummond.
Mr Drummond denies the charge of sexual touching of a child, which allegedly took place at a private function.
The girl said that Mr Drummond approached her from behind and stroked and slapped her buttocks.
She said that he left the room but returned soon afterwards and tried to kiss her on the mouth. The girl added that she said ‘no’ and moved, so that he kissed her on the shoulder.
She told legal adviser Francis Burak, prosecuting, that she was ‘mad and I was sad about what he had done’.
Another guest at the function said he had seen Mr Drummond near the alleged victim and heard her say: ‘No.’
The guest said the girl then told him that Mr Drummond had tried to kiss her but did not mention the alleged touching. He added that he advised her to tell her mother.
Advocate Rui Tremoceiro, defending, asked the guest: ‘Did you see Joao kiss her shoulder?’
He replied: ‘No.’
The advocate asked: ‘Did you see Joao kiss her at all?’
The witness again said: ‘No.’
Mr Drummond also gave evidence via a Portuguese interpreter.
Advocate Tremoceiro asked him: ‘Do you remember touching her?’
He said: ‘I don’t remember, but if I did it was unintentional.’ Mr Drummond said he later returned to the party, where the alleged victim’s mother confronted him.
The trial is scheduled to conclude today.
