Rotorua courthouse. Photo/File
The jury trying tattooist Jamie Dean Keremete, 47, in the High Court at Rotorua has retired to consider its verdict on the 20 sex and violence charges he faces.
Before they did this morning Justice Matthew Palmer QC reminded jurors of the evidence they'd heard for both the crown
and defence during the nine-day trial.
He told them there was no need for them to rush their deliberations and they could return to continue them tomorrow if necessary.
The judge directed the 11-person jury not to read anything into Keremete's absence during the second complainant's evidence against him, reminding them he'd excused his attendance.
He emphasised a late complaint did not necessarily mean it was a false complaint. This related to evidence from Keremete's first alleged victim who did not lay formal complaints about his conduct towards her until some years after she alleged they occurred.
He directed them that the fact Keremete had admitted and pleaded guilty to various charges relating to similar charges was to be set aside and not tested by them.
Keremete initially faced 22 charges but that was reduced to 20 after he pleaded guilty to a charge of intentionally damaging the second complainant's car with a hose reel and the Crown withdrew a charge of threatening to do grievous bodily harm to her.
These charges span a decade between 2006 and 2016 and incorporate allegations of rape and threatening to kill. A number of the charges are representative meaning the Crown claims they happened more than once.
The trial was marked by frequent heated exchanges between Keremete and Crown prosecutor Andy Hill.
