Driver freed as judge slams sex trial farce

Afghani taxi driver Mohammed Nadir Darwesh has walked free after a judge said it would be a farce to continue with his trial and dismissed all the sex allegations against him.

The jury was discharged on the second day of the trial in Christchurch District Court when Judge David Saunders ruled it unsafe to proceed.

The trial had heard evidence from two 16-year-old girls who said they accepted an offer of a free taxi ride, from Christchurch's Barrington Mall.

It was claimed that they were driven to Pioneer Stadium carpark where the driver, Mr Darwesh, locked the taxi doors and indecently assaulted them.

The credibility of the girls was attacked by Mr Darwesh's lawyer, Paul Norcross, who questioned them about their honesty and their past offending, and the reasons they had demanded $200 afterwards or they would go to the police.

Mr Darwesh told police the girls called his cab and offered sex for money which he declined, saying he was married.

He had given them $20 to get lunch, because it was Ramadan and as a Muslim it was better to help people.

But he suggested they get jobs rather than sell themselves.

He kept the threatening text messages and was able to show them to police.

Judge Saunders threw out two charges of indecent assault and two charges of unlawfully detaining the girls to have sexual connection with them, saying: "It would be a farce to continue with the matter at this stage."

- NZPA