An ACT Supreme Court jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a man accused of sexually abusing his friend's daughter.
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Michael Alan Gillard, 57, is alleged to have committed sex offences on the then-adolescent girl between 1995 and 2000 when she stayed with him in Canberra during holidays.
He has pleaded not guilty to a number of charges including sexual intercourse without consent, possessing child pornography and committing an act of indecency on a child under the age of 16.
The prosecution has argued that Gillard, who was considered an ''unofficial godfather'' to the then-teenager and her sisters, abused his position of authority to make the girl perform sex acts with him.
But defence barrister Ken Archer told the jury yesterday that the situation only applied in cases where the nature of the relationship was used to ''overbear'' someone, such as an accountant who refused to carry out business work unless a client had sex with him.
Mr Archer said any sexual activity that occurred took place only after the girl turned 16. He said Gillard and the girl eventually developed a sexual relationship and she consented to oral sex and other acts with him.
He told the jury that while Gillard's actions could be immoral, they were not illegal.
The jury is expected to continue deliberating today.