Judge agrees with sexual abuse verdict

Christchurch man has been found guilty on 12 out of 14 child sexual abuse charges at the end of his seven-day trial in the Christchurch District Court, and remanded in custody for sentence.

Judge Jane Farish thanked the jury for its careful analysis of the evidence, which involved testimony from the three child complainants relayed to the court room on closed circuit television.

"If it is any comfort to you I agree with your verdicts, having heard the case," she said.

The man's interim name suppression order continues while he is on remand in custody awaiting sentence on March 16.

The judge asked for a pre-sentence report and a victim impact reports prepared by a psychologist on the three children.

The jury found the 37-year-old man not guilty on two charges alleging he had made the boy indecently touch the two girls.

The sexual abuse was said to have gone on from about 2001 to 2008. According to crown prosecutor Claire Boshier it began when one of the girls was three and the other five. The boy was under eight.

The jury convicted the man on charges of touching one girl, sexually violating her with digital penetration, oral sex, and sexual intercourse, and charges of indecency with the second girl. He was also convicted of violation and indecency with the boy.

He had denied all charges. Some charges were dismissed during the trial, but 14 remained when the jury began to consider its verdicts at 11.15am today.

It delivered its verdicts at 5.50pm.

- NZPA