A New Zealand national accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in a Melbourne park has been released on bail after his defence lawyer argued audio recording of the sexual encounter sounded like the victim was enjoying herself.

Shahn Lefoe, 27, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday charged over the August incident in Point Cook where his defence barrister argued he thought the victim was 21 and the sex consensual.

“[The victim] presents as mature,” barrister Carly Marcs Lloyd said.

“The recording doesn’t sound like she was forced.”

Detective Senior Constable Jarrad Brookman, from the Westgate Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team, told the court that the pair had met at a gathering in August.