The trial of a Senior Northland police officer charged with sexual offending against two complainants has begun in the High Court at Auckland.
Kevin Burke faces two charges of indecent assault and two charges of sexual violation.
Burke showed no emotion in the High Court at Auckland today as he entered a not guilty plea to each of the four charges. The 61-year old is charged with two counts of indecent assault and two of sexual violation.
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There are two complainants, and the alleged offending is said to have taken place in 2002 and 2003.
At the time, Burke was an officer based at the Orewa Police Station. Since then he has worked as a Detective Inspector in Northland.
He was stood down from the police force when the criminal investigation began in April 2016.
In court on Monday, Crown Prosecutor Jo Murdoch said Burke came into contact with the complainants through his role as a police officer.
"The two complainants come from very different worlds and led very different lives but the Crown says they have one thing in common," she said.
"Kevin Burke sexually assaulted them after they put their trust in him as a police officer."
Defence Lawyer Arthur Fairley says one of the complainants had a consensual relationship with Burke, and the alleged sexual offending against the second complainant never happened.
"In no stage, at any shape or form, did he have anything to do sexually with her," he told the court.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
Newshub.
