Jury finds Cardno violated girls

Complainants had no reason to lie, said prosecution

A jury has found Blair Stephen Cardno guilty of 11 sexual offences against young girls.

In the Wellington District Court on Thursday, Cardno, 49, from Carterton, was found guilty on 11 charges including attempted sexual violation, sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and inducing a girl under 12 years to carry out an indecent act.

He was found not guilty of two charges of indecent assault on a girl between the ages of 12 and 16.

Cardno had defended the charges, which the Crown said were carried out in the early 2000s in Martinborough.

Cardno's trial had begun in the district court on Monday.

Summing up for the jury before they retired, Judge Arthur Tompkins said the Crown's case was that the complainants' evidence was truthful and sufficient and they had no reason to lie.

The Crown said the complainants had not "put their heads together, colluded and made false allegations", Judge Tompkins said.

The defence case was that nothing sexual had ever happened and the complainants had invented the story because of problems they were having in their lives at the time the alleged offences took place, the judge said.

The defence also challenged the reliability of the complainants' evidence.

Cardno, who gave evidence during the week, denied all the allegations and told the court he was in a relationship when the alleged offences took place.

He was remanded on bail until sentencing on November 26.

APNZ