Overview

• Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, a resident of the Bell Hotel in Epping, denies three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence.
• Prosecutors say the alleged encounters occurred on July 7 and 8, when Kebatu attempted to kiss a 14-year-old, put a hand on her thigh, and invited her back to the hotel after saying he wanted a baby with each girl.
• The court on Wednesday heard a police video interview with a 14-year-old boy who said the man asked the girls to come to the Bell Hotel “to have babies” and spoke about going to Kenya.
• A police video interview with the 14-year-old girl was played earlier, in which she described offering a slice of pizza before hearing, “I want one baby from you and one baby from your friend,” and said she told him she was 14.
• The case has drawn protests outside the former Bell Hotel, and court listings show the hotel owner’s appeal over restrictions on asylum placements is due to be heard at the Court of Appeal on Thursday.