A former Anglican priest told a young girl she might see her beloved deceased dog if she prayed before he raped her in a church, a court has heard.
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On another occasion, when she tried to stop his advances, the man allegedly became angry and told her God would not forgive her.
He then allegedly raped and committed an act of indecency on her before saying “Remember what I told you” as he walked away.
The 67-year-old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – went on trial in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday on 18 charges of sexual intercourse with a child and committing acts of indecency.
He has pleaded not guilty.
The abuse allegedly occurred between July, 1987 and October, 1989 when the girl was aged 12 to 13.
The court heard the pair had met via their involvement in music.
He is then alleged to have used his position and influence to molest and rape her on six different occasions, including in her own home and a church.
Prosecutor Trent Hickey, in his opening address, told jurors they would hear evidence from two men, who were also allegedly molested by the defendant as children.
Mr Hickey said this tendency evidence showed the accused had a sexual interest in children.
The prosecutor said the defendant had used the opportunities presented by his involvement in music and the church to gain access to children.
The court heard the woman “fell apart” in her late teens, which led her to drop out of school and music, she was kicked out of home, and eventually moved to Melbourne.
She returned to Canberra years later and met her future husband.
The court heard she had been plagued by nightmares featuring the defendant.
The heard that coverage of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and her own child reaching a similar age to when she had allegedly been abused prompted the alleged victim to make a statement to police in 2015.
Mr Hickey asked jurors to put themselves in the shoes of a young girl in the same position.
Defence barrister James Lawton told jurors that, when confronted by police, the accused had denied the allegations and told officers he was homosexual.
Mr Lawton reminded jurors the defendant was on trial for the alleged acts against the woman, not the two men providing tendency evidence.
He warned them against making a decision on guilt until all evidence had been presented before the court.
The trial continues on Thursday.
