Christopher Victor Todman, 72, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday for the final day of his judge-alone trial after earlier pleading not guilty to five charges of indecency with a boy under 12.
Early in the trial one charge was dismissed after the Crown opted not to pursue it.
The Crown alleged that two men were indecently assaulted by Todman in the 1990s when they were children.
One complainant recalled when he stayed at Todman’s house he would "select a kid" to sleep in the spare room while the others stayed in the lounge.
When he was chosen, the defendant gave him two white pills to take.
He alleged that on one occasion Todman groped him while applying ointment.
Another man said Todman indecently assaulted him during piano lessons at John McGlashan College.
The defendant told him to sit on his lap, then pulled his bottom into his crotch area, despite his resistance, and said something like: "aren’t cuddles nice?".
Yesterday Todman took the stand and denied those allegations.
Crown prosecutor Craig Power asked why he had groups of boys stay at his house.
"I guess they were just my world," Todman said.
Mr Power suggested the defendant had a "sexual interest in young boys".
Todman replied "not just sexual ... I considered them to be my friends as well".
He admitted to having groups of boys stay at his house and watching them undress and bathe together.
He had applied a cream to the complainant’s sore stomach during one visit, but never groped him.
The incidents alleged to have occurred while teaching a student piano were implausible.
"I’d never risk doing anything suspicious where people could come in unannounced at any time and see me.
"I was always aware of the privilege of teaching at John McGlashan and I wasn’t going to abuse that privilege".
He was sure he had never used the word "cuddles" to anyone.
Judge Hermann Retzlaff reserved his decision, and would deliver verdicts in February.
Todman was remanded on electronically-monitored bail until then.
