Former Mass. teacher accused of raping former student, defends herself in court [Video]

SERA CONGI. WCVB NEWSCENTER FIVE. SARA. THANK YOU. A FORMER MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER ACCUSED OF RAPING ONE OF HER FORMER STUDENTS TOOK THE STAND TODAY IN HER OWN DEFENSE. CAITLIN HARDING TOLD JURORS SHE DID NOT HAVE ANY INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GIRL, WHO WAS 13 AT THE TIME. SHE SAID SHE WAS SPENDING TIME WITH THE STUDENT AND THE REST OF HER FAMILY BECAUSE SHE WAS REALLY HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH THE TEEN’S MOTHER. THIS ALL HAPPENED DURING THE SUMMER OF 2010. DID YOU MAKE IT A POINT TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AND TO BOND WITH THE CHILDREN OF WOMEN YOU WERE DATING? YES. WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU? VERY MUCH SO, YES. WHY? I THINK WHEN YOU ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE AND YOU GROW TO CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THEM, YOU MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GET TO KNOW AND ENJOY THE THINGS THAT THEY ENJOY. WELL, THE …