Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The jury in the trial of a Christchurch man facing 30 sexual offending charges has asked the judge for advice on what happens if they can not reach a unanimous or majority verdict on all charges.
John Hope Muchirahondo is facing 21 charges of sexual violation by rape, and nine of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and one of not providing access to a cell phone.
The jury has been deliberating for nine days.
The jury has already lost one member due to illness, and on Wednesday they asked what happened if they could not reach a unanimous decision and were advised they could return a majority verdict.
On Friday, the jury said in a question, that the judge had said in her summing up that if they could not reach a unanimous or majority verdict on all charges she would have further directions for them, and they asked what that further advice was.
Justice Lisa Preston advised the jury could be discharged on certain charges if they could not reach a verdict on those, and they could deliver a verdict on other charges where a decision was reached.
Justice Preston also asked the jury to take more time if they thought they could reach a verdict on any of the undecided charges.
The jury has retired for the weekend after nine days of deliberations and will resume on Monday.
