A Dunedin jury has given its verdict on 13 indecency charges without the accused man being present because he was in hospital.
Wayne William Smith, 54, storeman, became unwell yesterday afternoon while the jury was considering his case and an ambulance was called to the court building.
Smith had been on trial in the Dunedin District Court on 10 charges of sexual conduct with a young person and three of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.
The jury retired to deliberate about 12.30pm after Judge John Macdonald had summed up the case and Crown counsel Craig Power and defence counsel John Westgate had put their closing arguments to the jury.
Smith became unwell part-way through the afternoon while in custody in a court holding cell awaiting the verdict. An ambulance was called and took him to hospital for medical checks.
He was still in hospital when the jury reached its verdict shortly before 4pm.
Despite the highly unusual situation, Judge John Macdonald and counsel agreed the verdict should be taken, even though the defendant could not be present.
The jury found Smith guilty on nine of the 13 charges - all three of the sexual violations and six of the sexual conduct allegations - and not guilty on four charges of sexual conduct involving alleged indecent assaults.
Convictions were entered on the nine "guilty" findings and Smith is expected to appear in court today to be formally remanded for sentence.