A Whangarei man has been found guilty on four of 10 charges relating to sexual indecencies against his two teenage nieces.
A jury of five women and seven men returned with the verdicts in the Whangarei District Court late Friday after a week-long trial.
The man, who cannot be named for legal
reasons, was charged with five counts of performing indecencies with a girl, three of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, one of sexual connection with a child and another charge of sexual violation by rape.
He was found guilty on three counts of indecent assault and one of performing an indecent act. He will be sentenced on August 22.
Crown solicitor Mike Smith told the jury in his closing address to remember how the complainants reacted while giving their evidence. He said adult concepts and understanding could not be imposed on children, while referring to how the latter reacted during questioning and during recollection of events.
Defence lawyer Arthur Fairley said the jury had to be sure the alleged offences were committed.
One of the complainants, he said, told police in her statement recorded on video that she was raped at two locations but during cross examination, said they happened in one house only.
The Crown, he submitted, was relying on the evidence of professor of psychology Fred Seymour, but all he did was educate the court on popular misconceptions of delays by children in reporting sexual abuses and whether it was normal behaviour.
