Trial of man accused of indecently assaulting young girl opens

Tuesday 20 July 2021

The trial of a 50-year-old man accused of indecently assaulting a young girl has opened in the Royal Court.

Adelio Camara Marques, who denies three counts of indecent assault, and one of procuring an act of gross indecency, appeared before a jury, and Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith yesterday.

The alleged incidents, which the girl claims happened over a two-year period when she was under 12 years old went unreported until she was older, when she told an adult and they brought it to the attention of the police.

She told the court during cross-examination by Crown Advocate Julian Gollop, prosecuting, that she "couldn't keep it a secret anymore."

The earliest charge against Mr Marques involved him allegedly showing his penis to the child, and getting her to touch it.

The Court heard that the girl told Police during an interview last year that this alleged incident had left her “kind of scared” and feeling “really weird."

She also claimed Mr Marques had touched her in a sexual way on other occasions, making her feel "disgusting." She told Police during an interview that Mr Marques had told her not to tell anyone.

Defending Mr Marques, Advocate Adam Harrison suggested that the allegations made by the girl were "lies" she had been told to say by others.

The trial continues today.