Denies actions nonconsensual

A MAN on trial for an alleged sexual assault of a massage therapy student says he did not do anything against her will.

The 36yearold dairy farmer, whose name is suppressed, appeared yesterday in the Invercargill District Court on the third day of his trial.

On Monday, he denied the six charges against him — four charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault — in relation to an incident during a massage appointment.

A SIT student said the man kissed and touched her breast and groin area without her consent.

At the hearing yesterday, the jury watched a DVD of an interview with the defendant.

He denied the complainant’s allegations that he had asked her if she did a ‘‘happy ending’’ during a previous appointment.

The man told the police officer the massage on that day took three hours and, in the last half hour, she said she would try a ‘‘new technique she had learnt’’ to help relax the muscles.

He said she massaged his whole body, including the region near his penis.

This action made him have ‘‘feelings’’ and, after the police officer challenged him, he said it aroused him.

When the appointment finished he was sitting on the table and the student was in front of him. He asked to kiss her and she agreed, he said.

The defendant denied he had used force to take her clothes off and said she had helped him take off her Tshirt.

He admitted they kissed, hugged and he touched her breast, but he denied doing anything without consent or that he tried to kiss and touch her groin area.

She ‘‘stopped suddenly’’ because she was worried he was married and she was a student. The defendant said he stopped as soon she asked.

During the complainant’s evidence, she said he ‘‘kept doing what he wanted’’.

The trial continues.