The sentencing of a Christchurch mall masseur found guilty of inappropriately touching female clients, has today been adjourned again due to his deteriorating, and as yet undiagnosed, health.
Cunbin Zhang, 60, was found guilty by a jury of 14 charges of indecent assault earlier this year.
The trial heard from women who alleged Zhang had massaged or touched their breasts, pubic areas, inner and upper thighs.
Zhang was due to be sentenced in July but was put off after his health deteriorated rapidly while in custody awaiting sentence.
His case was called against Christchurch District Court today but his attendance was excused by Judge Stephen O'Driscoll.
The judge said he had earlier received a memorandum outlining a joint application for an adjournment.
Judge O'Driscoll said he still wanted today's discussions to be heard in open court, given the high level of public interest, and for any victims who may have wanted to come to court.
He was satisfied an adjournment was required to enable further investigations into Zhang's health, and for an MRI brain scan, along with a number of other tests to be carried out.
Sentence was adjourned until December 17.
The trial was told Zhang had no formal training and appeared to have limited experience.
He was given some training and made aware of what were appropriate areas to touch and what were off-limits.
The alleged offending was first brought to police attention by a woman who went for a massage on December 7, 2012.
While lying face down, Zhang started by rubbing her back, before she claims he pulled her knickers off.
The stunned woman said she "froze".
The Crown claims he then "pulled her buttocks apart".
He repeatedly massaged her legs and tried to pull them apart, she said.
When he touched her breasts, she asked him not to but he just got more oil and touched her pubic area, the court heard.
"She told him, 'No, no, no'. He grabbed one of her breasts and tried to massage it," the Crown said.
By Kurt Bayer of APNZ
