The defence team for a Taranaki man on trial for 49 sex offences has attacked the reliability and credibility of the Crown's witnesses.
Nigel Allan Hauauru Nelson is on trial in the High Court in New Plymouth Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Nigel Allan Hauauru Nelson is accused of rape, unlawful sexual connection, and sexual exploitation of a person under 18.
The Crown said the offending occurred between 1996 and 2015 across Waikato, King Country and Taranaki, and involved 15 vulnerable males.
It alleged Mr Nelson lured many of his victims into committing sex acts with promises of money from a non-existent prostitution and pornography business.
In closing, Mr Nelson's defence said evidence heard in court was inconsistent with police statements, full of guesses, and one witness was under the influence of alcohol.
It said many of the allegations against Mr Nelson were fabricated, other encounters consensual, and it was not clear the men involved were under 18.
Justice Wylie will deliver his verdict on 14 September.
