THE mother of a 12-year-old girl allegedly “married” in an Islamic ceremony has been cut off while giving evidence in court after persistent angry outbursts by her ex-husband. 
 
Judge Deborah Sweeney today closed proceedings for the day in the judge-alone District Court trial of the girl’s father, who’s charged with procuring a child aged under 14 for unlawful sexual activity and being an accessory before the fact to a serious indictable offence.

The 63-year-old father, who can’t be named, was sneering in the dock as his ex-wife angrily and repeatedly denied she had confused details of a phone call, while she was under cross-examination from the defence via video-link.

The woman told the court she had learning disabilities and memory troubles but became hostile when pressed by the defence about the dates of alleged phone conversations.

During the calls, allegedly made in January 2014, the mother was told by her former husband her young daughter was going to be married, the court heard.

“He says that she is going to be married no matter what, and that next time I see her she’s going to be married,” the mother said via CCTV.

She was adamant she was speaking to the girl’s father.

“It was (his) voice. I know that because I had to put up with it for 20 years,” the court heard.

Even after telling the father she didn’t agree with the marriage, it wasn’t until she was contacted by NSW Department of Community Services (DOCS) that she was informed, she said.

“The father was forceful and really wanted her to get married,” she said.

Earlier in the trial, crown prosecutor Siobhan Herbert said the father gave his daughter’s mobile phone number to a 26-year-old man who wanted to marry her.

The father then hosted an Islamic ceremony at his home in the Hunter region last January and later allegedly set up a mattress for the couple to have sex, she said.

The mother, a former Muslim, separated from the father in 2010. They have six children , the court heard.

She was wearing a large silver crucifix necklace while giving evidence, as her former husband slouched casually in the stand. It’s expected she will continue to give evidence on Monday, when the trial resumes.