Former Hong Kong Airlines boss accused of historic child sex abuse in Moreton

An aviation mogul has appeared in court after allegedly sexually abusing a little girl three decades ago.

Former Hong Kong Airlines CEO Michael Burke, 50, is accused of groping the young woman when he was 19. This allegedly followed years of sexual abuse inflicted on the girl by Burke when she was a teenager living in Moreton.

Burke, now of Rhos Road in Rhos-On-Sea, North Wales, pleaded not guilty to indecent assault. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, May 8, where a jury was sent to decide his fate following a trial.

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Opening the case, prosecutor David Watson said: “Like many people who have been sexually assaulted, both children and adults, the victim did not feel able to tell anyone at the time. It wasn’t until many years later that she felt able to come forward and tell the story. The police what happened The defendant denies that any such incident took place”.

During the trial, the jury heard how Burke allegedly sexually abused the girl in the 70s and 80s. On one occasion he allegedly cornered her in a room and told her: “You don’t remember what happened when you were little, wasn’t it? I knew you wouldn’t remember,” before assaulting her.

Mr Watson said: “She got up and tried to leave the room but he blocked her way and as she did so he grabbed her breast. She resisted, clutching herself with both hands, and it was a short struggle. It only lasted a few seconds, during which the defendant was laughing at her before he let go and let her leave the room.”

He added: “In fact the defendant abused the victim from a very young age – she estimates she was around four years old.

“Her first memory of the abuse involved a game of doctors and nurses suggested by the defendant. She would be made to lie down, pushed down if necessary, while he felt her body, looked up her skirt and reached into her panties. .”

The abuse was alleged to have continued until the girl was around nine or 10 years old.

Summing up the case, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said Burke testified she had “no recollection of spending time with (the victim)”. The father-of-two, who now works for an airport in Saudi Arabia, denied ever playing doctors and nurses with the girl and said he would not have felt comfortable being alone with her.

The process continues.

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