He said there was a delay when the boy revealed the sex offending to his family and that little leeway was given to Charteris about remembering many years later when contact with the boy ended.
The crown agreed the trial lawyer accepted an error was made on the circumcision matter but argued there was no injustice to the overall decision.
The court heard it was late in being raised in the trial, was only one small part in the judge's decision, and the defendant's narrative often changed about the length and depth of the relationship.
Charteris is also appealing the length of his sentence, after two years was reduced for good character and nine months for ill health from the starting point of 16 years' imprisonment.
Justice Nation reserved his decision
