A Horowhenua man sobbed and said he was innocent when a Palmerston North District Court found him guilty of two counts of sexual violation of another man last night.
It was alleged the 46-year-old man took advantage of his 29-year-old friend during an alcohol-fuelled evening playing on music-recording equipment at his home on July 18, 2006.
The jury made its findings after deliberating nine hours. It found him not guilty of a stupefication charge, the Manawatu Standard reported today.
The convicted man has interim name suppression while an appeal is lodged against Judge Alastair Garland's decision to decline it.
He was remanded in custody for sentence on February 24.
The man sobbed as his request to be left to spend Christmas with his female partner and their child was denied.
During the trial, Crown prosecutor Sherie Clarke said he "knowingly and intentionally took advantage" of the younger man despite the defence allegations they had been flirting beforehand.
