Jury retires to consider charges of abusing impaired man

Jury considering the case at the Rotorua High Court advised they will not be pressured for a decision. Photo/File

The jury trying an Eastern Bay of Plenty couple on multiple charges relating to an intellectually impaired man has retired to consider its verdict.

The trial of Leneith Moeke and Gene Karauria, 29, in the High Court at Rotorua began earlier this month, both pleading not guilty to the accumulated 25 charges, including kidnapping by detaining the man and intentionally causing suffering to a vulnerable adult.

Moeke pleaded guilty to assaulting a child who'd been living in his home but maintained a not guilty plea to using a broom on him as a weapon.

Justice Rebecca Edwards told the jury on Friday there was no rush to reach verdicts, saying they had a lot of material and evidence to consider.

She said she was conscious the trail had caused inconvenience to their private lives but that was not to influence their decision making.

Referring to a question she'd received from the foreman about what would happen if the panel was unable to reach verdicts by 5pm, she said they would then be asked if they wanted to continue into the evening, prefer to adjourn until Monday or return on Saturday.

"It is important you should not be put under undue pressure," she said. - AAP