A retired Auckland music teacher has been found guilty of 12 sex offences involving three teenage girls, according to the NZ Herald. An Auckland District Court jury rejected the man’s claims that a 14-year-old complainant had initiated contact and that his interactions with two older teens were consensual.
The NZ Herald reported that the man faced nine charges of indecency with a girl, three counts of sexual violation, and two of sexual violation by rape. The jury could not reach unanimous decisions on most charges, so Judge Kathryn Maxwell allowed majority verdicts requiring all but one juror to agree. The teacher was acquitted of one rape charge and one unlawful sexual connection charge.
During the trial, the teacher admitted to having sex with two complainants but claimed they were over 16 at the time. Prosecutor Kasey Nihill challenged inconsistencies between his police interview and courtroom testimony. The man’s interim name suppression was continued until a hearing next week, with sentencing scheduled for next year. He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
For more information, visit nzherald.co.nz.