A 57 year-old is standing trial High Court at Whangarei this morning on charges including rape, assault and sexual violation.
Taite Hemi Kupa is standing trial on five counts of assault on a child under 16, one charge of assault on a female and four charges of sexual violation by rape on girls under 16.
He is also facing seven charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and one attempted sexual violation by rape.
The offences are alleged to have taken place in Northland.
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The trial started this morning before Justice Reynor Asher and a jury of seven women and four men.
Kelly Ellis is defending Kupa while Nicole Dore is Crown prosecutor.