One man faces 16 sexual abuse charges

A man is in court over 16 historic sexual abuse allegations.

A Whangarei man is facing 16 historical sexual abuse charges against seven complainants in a trial at the High Court at Whangarei.

Frederick Solomon Erihe, 58, pleaded not guilty to each of the charges as they were read out before the trial started yesterday.

A jury of 10 women and two men will hear evidence relating to one charge of sexual violation by rape, four of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, six of indecent assault, two of indecent acts, two of attempted sexual violation by rape and one charge of assaulting a child.

The charges cover the years between 1969 and 2001 and the complainants were all under 16.

The police investigation began last year after a complainant went to Whangarei police station.

A further six people were interviewed after that and said they had been abused by Erihe.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Dore said there was an incident where a complainant was asked by Erihe to stroke his genitals for $4.

Some witnesses would give evidence via closed-circuit television, while others would have their recorded interviews with police played to the court.

They would also hear from a clinical psychologist, who was an expert in child abuse, about the reason why there are delays in reporting abuse when children are involved.

Defence lawyer Arthur Fairley, in a brief address to the jury, said the Crown would not be able to prove the charges and Erihe denied the charges.

Speaking to the jury before the trial began, Justice Simon Moore told them not to research on the internet in relation to the trial.

"It must not happen. I can't impress that enough. It's critical that the participants in this trial have a fair trial."

He urged jurors to alert court staff if they heard of other jury members using Facebook to talk about the trial.

"It amounts to contempt of court," Justice Moore said.