Father tells of nightmare in NRL sex trauma
Dean Ritchie and Lauren Williams | March 08, 2009 11:00pm
THE father of a teenage girl who claims she was sexually assaulted by NRL star Brett Stewart said the families' lives had turned into a ''nightmare''. He spoke out yesterday as DNA swabs from Stewart were being tested by police investigating the alleged attack on the 17-year-old.
As the girl was assessed by a nurse at her home in Sydney's northern beachside suburb of Manly yesterday, the NRL scrambled to deal with the latest fallout surrounding claims of alleged inappropriate behaviour by one of its players.
But tomorrow, Manly is expected to defy the NRL by naming Stewart at fullbac k for the club's opening round clash with the Bulldogs on Saturday.
It is understood saliva swabs from the 17-year-old and scrapings from Stewart's fingernails are being tested.
No charges, if any, will be laid until the tests are completed and more witnesses interviewed, including the girl's mother and sisters who claim to have seen the incident.
Clearly distressed, the father said the allegations, which came after Manly's season launch last Friday, had left his family traumatised.
"They're terrified. This is a nightmare for our family," he said yesterday.
Contradicting a police statement issued on Friday, the teenager's father stressed the incident had not occurred in a stairwell but at the gated entrance to a neighbouring townhouse apartment shortly after Stewart arrived home in a taxi.
The father also wanted to end speculation Stewart and his daughter knew each other.
"We didn't even know he lived there until now," he said.
After hearing his daughter screaming, he said he clashed with Stewart, whom he claims was aggressive.
"I'm disgusted by the whole thing - as any father would be," he said.
The father, who fears a backlash from Manly supporters, is today expected to provide police with a statement.
He also said his family would leave the complex after moving in only three weeks ago.
"We didn't ask for any of this," he said.
"But now it's happened, we have to deal with it, for what? It just isn't right."
Stewart will be at Manly's headquarters this morning for training with teammates.
A close friend yesterday claimed the player was "shattered" at the allegations and media attention. Despite concerns over Stewart's state of mind, his manager George Mimis said the star wanted to play the opening match.
It is thought the DNA tests will be fast-tracked with results known in a week.
