A jury has failed to reach a verdict on indecent assault charges against a Taranaki music teacher accused of grabbing school girls' bottoms.
The jury of nine men and three women in the New Plymouth District Court retired at 1pm yesterday but about 6.30pm said they could not reach either a unanimous or majority 11-1 verdict.
Judge Allan Roberts discharged the jury and Stassen was remanded on bail until a later callover date, the Taranaki Daily News reported.
Ludovicus Michael Stassen, 62, of Lepperton, 13km north of Inglewood denies that in 2006 and 2008 at Stratford High School he grabbed the bottom of a 14-year-old girl in his music class and later used her hand to rub up his leg to near his groin area.
He also denies grabbing another girl's bottom last year as she walked down a school corridor.
Stassen himself took the stand yesterday and described allegations against him as utter nonsense.
He denied he had been "testing the waters" with the school girls by grabbing their bottoms.
Five former students were called as character witnesses, including New Plymouth school teacher Michelle Cronin.
She said the accused was a passionate teacher who always wanted the best for his students. She respected him and the methods he used and he never gave her any reason for concern.
Crown prosecutor Justin Marinovich said the girls had been credible, honest and reliable in their testimony.
He rubbished a defence assertion that the alleged indecent assault against the second complainant was accidental.
Defence counsel Rajan Rai said the case showed how difficult it was to defend allegations of this nature.
Although Stassen had nothing to prove, everyone expected him to prove his innocence.
The defence maintained the first girl fabricated her evidence and the incident in the school corridor could have been nothing more than a pat on the back.
