Anaru Morgan (22) has been on trial in the High Court at Invercargill since Tuesday after pleading not guilty to charges of abduction for the purposes of sexual connection, unlawful sexual connection and rape.
Lawyer Hugo Young addressed the jury yesterday at the opening of the defence’s case, saying his client would give evidence the next day.
Mr Young reminded the jury that Morgan did not need to do so and the burden of proving the charges lay with with the Crown.
However, Morgan had chosen to do so because he wanted the jury to know "the truth about what has happened", Mr Young said.
The Crown alleges that Morgan detained the woman, who describes herself as a masseuse, in a motel room in Invercargill in March last year and that she performed oral and penetrative sex on him because she was scared of being hurt.
Mr Young said this was not what happened.
Morgan paid her $60 to perform a non-penetrative sexual act, he said.
"He [Morgan] will say there was no struggle, he did not lock or hold [the woman] captive in the room as she claims. He did not force her to have sex with him.
"He did not receive oral sex from her and there was no vaginal sex, so there was no unlawfully detention, no sexual violation and no rape," Mr Young said.
He was confident the jury would be reminded of the points he raised when he cross-examined the Crown’s witnesses, Mr Young said.
The trial before Justice Cameron Mander continues today.
