Muchirahondo rape trial: Defendant always believed in consent – ​​defense

• John Muchirahondo is facing 31 charges in the High Court in Christchurch, including rape and sexual assault of several women.
• A rape charge was dismissed by the judge today
• The defense opened the case on the grounds that the case was simple – Muchirahondo believed he had the plaintiff’s consent.

The defence of a Christchurch man facing multiple sexual assault charges began today. His lawyer says the defence is based solely on the fact that his client always believed the acts were consensual.

John Hope Muchirahondo is facing 31 charges in the High Court in Christchurch, including rape and sexual abuse of several women.

He had been accused of 32 charges, but today Judge Lisa Preston dropped one charge of rape.

At the opening of the defense, Muchirahondo's attorney Anselm Williams stated that the defense believed the jury could not find Muchirahondo guilty of any of the charges.

He said his client's defense was simple.

“That he has never engaged in sexual activities of the kind described where consent was not present or where he could not reasonably assume that consent was present.”

Williams also pointed out that Muchirahondo was charged with sexual abuse and not with creating videos without the consent of the people depicted in them.

He said the prosecution must prove the allegation of sexual assault.

Yesterday, the prosecution presented a series of videos and images found on Muchirahondo's phone showing sexual acts, naked women and touching of female genitals.

Detective Brett Goucher told the court that some of the videos and photos made it appear as if the women were sleeping.

Williams said the defense's witnesses will include a sleep expert who will examine whether it is possible to determine whether people are sleeping, as well as an expert on memory and the effects of alcohol on memory.

Muchirahondo will not make a statement.