Whale Cove (Jul 05/06) - A Whale Cove man accused of sexually assaulting his pre-teen daughter will be allowed to visit the girl while he awaits trial, a judge ruled last week.

The man, who says he is innocent, had been barred from the family home and was living with his mother in the small Kivalliq community.

Nunavut Court of Justice Beverly Browne decided June 27 the man could go home during the day and visit his daughter, so long as there was another adult present.

Prosecutor Patricia Moise argued against allowing the man back into the house, saying there was a possibility he could abuse the girl and influence her testimony.

"Who's to know what's going on in the house?" Moise asked. "We know the type of influence a father can have over their child.

"The court has the power to protect this (girl). We can't turn our backs on the person who came to us seeking protection."

The girl's mother wants her husband to return home and with other adults in the house, the young girl will be safe, the judge said. The man's sexual assault trial was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed until Aug. 14.

Meanwhile, officials revealed that the man had been living at home, off and on, since May 4 - despite the original court order forbidding him from seeing his daughter.

The man's name cannot be reported under a court order designed to protect his daughter's identity.