EDMONTON -- Two 10-year-old girls told a jury yesterday that tae-kwondo instructor Tom Innerebner had touched their private parts during martial arts lessons in a school gym.

One girl testified Innerebner put a hand under her clothing and rubbed her breast area while the other said he twice put his hand into her pants and under her panties.

Under cross-examination, the first girl admitted she continued taking the class twice a week up until June 2007 and wanted to continue the lessons in the fall.

She also agreed the class was fun, she liked Innerebner and used to talk and play with him and other students after classes.

As well, the girl agreed that things changed after a newspaper article detailing that Innerebner had been charged with sexually assaulting students came out, and her mother told her Innerebner was a "bad person."

Innerebner, 52, has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of sexual assault and eight counts of sexual interference.

Two women testified Monday they were inappropriately touched by Innerebner during group taekwondo lessons.

The pair were the first of nine alleged sexual abuse victims slated to testify at Innerebner's Court of Queen's Bench trial. The remaining seven are children.

None of the victims can be identified under a court-ordered publication ban.

Both women, now aged 25 and 24, told court they came forward after hearing about the newspaper article.

One woman told the jury Innerebner touched her on her breasts and in the crotch area during demonstrations.

The other woman testified Innerebner touched her breasts and buttocks during stretching exercises.

"He gave me the willies up and down - the shivers," said the woman, adding she told her mother at the time "he's weird and I'm not going back."

TONY.BLAIS@SUNMEDIA.CA