A 38-YEAR-OLD man accused of making a young child touch him sexually has denied ever having done so – and disputed the girl’s version of events.
Davide Romano was giving evidence on the third day of his trial at the Royal Court.
He is accused of two counts of sexual touching of a child under 12 and of causing a child under 12 to engage in a sex act. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The girl – in a recorded police interview played in court – said Mr Romano had said he wanted to play a game and blindfolded her with a T-shirt before making her touch him sexually. She said she had been able to see what was happening through a gap in the material.
But answering questions through an Italian interpreter, Mr Romano said: “I have never played a game of any sort that involved covering the eyes.”
The girl also alleged that she saw him pull down the zip of his jeans, but he said: “I wear tracksuit bottoms which have no zip. I don’t wear jeans like that.”
Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, said: “Your whole account is a desperate attempt to get off the hook.”
He replied: “Absolutely not. I am under oath and I’m trying to tell the whole truth.”
The court also heard from Mr Romano’s wife.
Advocate Nicholls asked her: “Has Davide ever shown an unhealthy interest in girls?”
She said: “No.”
The jury of seven women and five men are expected to begin considering their verdicts this afternoon. The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, is presiding.
