A 14-year old girl was asked to identify the man she claimed sexually assaulted her yesterday before a judge and jury.

The 22-year old man, represented by lawyer Peter Farge, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting the girl at his house in February of 2002. The girl was 12 years old at the time.

The alleged victim contradicted herself several times in her testimony, readily admitting that statements she had made to the Police were not all true.

Though she told Police she punched the man on two occasions, in court she said she had only punched him once.

She also said that while she told Police on one occasion he dragged her into the house by her arms and neck, as well as pulling her bike, in fact he only pulled her by her arms. ?I was scared of my parents? reaction,? she explained.

She did not hesitate when asked to identify the defendant, however, pointing at the 22-year old man immediately.

In earlier testimony she told the court how she identified him to her mother one day on the bus.

Her mother then confirmed that story. ?She said, ?Mummy that?s the guy who assaulted me,?? she told the court.

The mother said she had seen the man around, and she saw him man twice after the bus incident, once in Magistrates? Court. She saw his face twice also.

Based on that out-of-court identification the Crown was able to have that evidence introduced. The jury was sent out of the courtroom while Crown made applications, and the screen hiding the defendant from those in the witness stand was removed.

When the jury was allowed back inside the courtroom, both mother and daughter were allowed to identify the accused in the dock.

When asked if the man who attacked her daughter was in court that day, the mother did not hesitate either, immediately pointing at the defendant.

The defendant took the stand in his own defence. ?I never assaulted her on either occasion (that she visited my house),? he told the five-man, seven-woman jury. ?I don?t know what she?s talking about.?

He denied taking the girl into his bedroom while she was at his house and having sex with her, saying on one occasion she never entered the house and on the other they all sat around the kitchen table.

Admitting he knew the girl, he maintained he never knew how old she was, though he did know she was still in school.

When asked if he found her pretty, he replied: ?No, I never looked at her in that way.?

?In what way did you look at her?? Crown counsel Graveney Bannister asked.

?As a minor, as a girl. I never found her attractive,? the man replied with a shrug.

Lawyers will make their closing arguments and Justice Ground will make his summation to the jury this morning. Jury deliberations are expected to begin by lunch.