Judge Mackintosh told the jury it's only human to feel sorry for people who are disabled and have those challenges in their lives, and they can feel equally sorry for people accused in cases like these. However, there is no room for that in this case and they have to put aside any feelings of sympathy and prejudice, the judge said.
In her summing up, the judge told the court the Crown alleges many of the sex acts were committed by the caregiver in the family home and in vehicles when they were alone. She said the Crown have highlighted there is a pattern to the allegations - the complainants are all female, they were all in his care, they were all vulnerable, each described similar sexual acts and they were all told not to tell anyone.
The defence argue that the allegations are "absurd" and simply did not happen. The complainants were influenced by one child who was deeply troubled, and who was motivated by wanting to get away from the household, the judge said.
Judge Mackintosh said the defence claim the complainants were unreliable because of their significant impairments, and there was no opportunity for the defendant to carry out any of the alleged offending because the household was very busy with lots of people coming and going.
Prosecutor Jo Rielly closed the Crown's case on Thursday, saying the defendant must by his "very nature be opportunistic" as he would wait until the females were left in his sole care before he sexually abused them.
Ms Rielly said each of these defence witness's testimonies, while well-meaning, seemed "contrived" and asked that the jury consider the fact the alleged abuse happened in private when no-one else was around.
"It's clear that all of the defence witness love the defendant, care about him and respect him. It's also clear he has done a lot of good for his family and community over the years...but what I'd say to you is many otherwise-good people do bad things."
In his closing submissions defence lawyer Scott Jefferson cautioned the jury to check themselves if they started "feeling sorry" for the complainants in light of their impairments.
"You wouldn't be human if you hadn't some feelings of sympathy...but you can't apply prejudice to your determinations."
Mr Jefferson called numerous witnesses for the defence case who each told the court they never had never seen anything untoward about the defendant's behaviour towards those in his care.
The court heard the children entrusted in the man's care had very good lives, with birthday parties one had to see to believe, and that he cared for them like they were his own.