Indecency charge unproven

Judge Arthur Tompkins ruled a defendant not guilty in Masterton District Court of a historical charge of indecency.

A former Masterton chiropractor has been cleared of historical indecency charges after a judge declared the case had not been proved.

The offending was alleged to have taken place 27 years ago.

The case relied on the testimony of a 40-year-old, who was treated at age 13 for an injured back. In a defended hearing before Judge Arthur Tompkins at the Masterton District Court on Tuesday, the man said his trousers had been pulled down and his genitals fondled.

The chiropractor had said he was "just checking ... to see if the left testicle was hanging over the right".

The man said that last year, with his own son about to turn 13, he asked someone if what had occurred was normal. Told it wasn't, he went to the police.

Now 78, the chiropractor told police that he could not remember the complainant among "hundreds" of clients. He denied indecently assaulting any.

Judge Tompkins said the complainant appeared "genuine", but police had not proven the case. He declared the defendant not guilty.

In light of the dismissal, the Times-Age has chosen not to name the chiropractor.