was innocent.

"I get along with everyone, and I have a loving, compassionate spirit. I am not a violent person,'' said the 24-year-old Sandys man who allegedly fondled and "tongued'' the 13-year-old in a supermarket storeroom.

The girl claims that the man hugged her, squeezed her behind and "tongued'' her in the supermarket where they were both employed on July 31. Earlier this week, the girl told Magistrates' Court she was working in the store with her nine-year-old step brother when the incident occurred.

She said her brother had left the storeroom and she had filled a water gun intending to soak him upon his return, when the defendant slapped her on the behind.

After that, the girl said: "What are you doing? I will squirt you,'' He replied: "Go ahead.'' "He then hugged and squeezed my behind and kissed me on the lips. He tongued me,'' the girl said.

She added that the defendant told her not to tell her brother about what took place and she said o.k.

But yesterday the man insisted this was not the case. He said after asking the girl's brother to go and close the shutters he left to go pack boxes in the cooler.

Insp. Duffy, however, pointed out that there was ample time while the brother was gone for the man to do the things the girl alleged.

He also pointed out that while the girl was testifying she looked at everyone else in the court room besides the defendant.

"The girl was clearly uneasy in the box,'' Insp. Duffy told Magistrate the Wor. Charles-Etta Simmons. "When she gave evidence she was reluctant to look at the defendant. She was scared and also had to give embarrassing evidence too for a young lady.

"She is an unsophisticated, immature female and the man would have you believe that she made a wicked accusation against him.'' But the man's lawyer Mr. Tim Marshall said: "You have to be extremely cautious when it boils down to his word versus her word.

"We're talking about criminal offence here and she tells the man after the alleged incident that she will squirt him with a water gun.

"If what she said is true where is the evidence.'' He added: "I think if a 13-year-old is in an uncomfortable situation, she knows how to move her feet and get out the door.

"If she was fearful of him and if what she said had any validity, why didn't she leave, run, or call someone for help.

She was in a store with fellow employees who support her. She's worked there for two years.'' Mr. Marshall also said the girl had the opportunity to complain to her brother shortly after the incident.

"A life line comes in and presents himself,'' he said. "Why didn't she grab it? "This was an area (of the store) where everyone has access. It just doesn't add up.

"Insp. Duffy said the girl couldn't look at the man when she gave evidence, well I believe that if you can't look someone in the eye, you must be hiding something.'' Ms. Simmons is expected to pass judgment tomorrow.