The assault is alleged to have happened during Canada Day fireworks near UBC two years ago.
David Alan Lessor is being accused of one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual touching of an eight-year-old girl.
At the start of his trial he told the judge he wanted to make a statement about alleged injustices at the lower court level.
The judge told him she was there to hear the evidence and that he is innocent until proven guilty, that he had the right to remain silent and that he may make a statement after the Crown’s case goes in.
The case goes back to July 1, 2014, when the young girl and her mom, neither of whom can be identified, went to see the Canada Day fireworks.
They were at Acadia beach, west of Spanish Banks, when they struck up a conversation with Lessor.
The girl, now 10-years-old, testified in B.C. Supreme Court from behind a white screen.
Video of her police statement was played in court as Lesser took notes.
She told the judge that Lessor lifted her skirt exposing her bathing suit while her mom had gone up to the van.
At another point when her mom was away, she said the accused reached between her legs and touched her vaginal area on top of her swimsuit.
She said she told her mom he had touched her and that she was uncomfortable.
But they stayed on the beach with the accused, and even gave him a ride afterwards.
“And the allegation is sexual assault towards a minor, which I’ve pleaded not guilty to because I don’t believe I’m guilty and of these serious allegations,” Lessor told Global News.
“And the reason why is because of the state of my mental health and the state that the Family Ministry left me in.”
“As my doctor says, I was, I’ve been suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, excessive anxiety.”
The mom testified that this is the worst thing a parent could do. She didn’t react to what her daughter said and it took some time before she called 9-1-1.
She will be cross examined Thursday.
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