A man facing 43 sexual assault charges allegedly "sprung" attacks on his family members and friends after creating an environment designed to "normalise sexual activity," a prosecutor has told a jury.
Tyson Bonfield, 46, is facing an ACT Supreme Court trial after pleading not guilty to the charges, which relate to the alleged sexual and indecent assault of 11 people between the 2000s and late 2010s.
He is accused of sexually assaulting four female members of his family when they were children or teenagers. The seven other alleged victims were family friends.
Bonfield has been named with the consent of the family members who have brought allegations against him.
Earlier in the trial, the court heard allegations that Bonfield repeatedly engaged in non-consensual sexual acts when family members were asleep, including sexually assaulting them and masturbating nearby.
He is also accused of repeatedly forcing, or attempting to force, people to perform oral sex on him.
One alleged victim was 11 when Bonfield is said to have sexually assaulted her one night after school camp.
The accused man also allegedly hid cameras in bedrooms and put vibrators in the beds of children.
As the trial entered closing arguments on Wednesday, September 16, ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions deputy director Trent Hickey told the jury Bonfield routinely walked around his home naked while hosting visitors and parties.
Mr Hickey also argued Bonfield sent pornographic material to family members in "another attempt" to normalise and desensitise sexual activity in the household.
He said the jurors should have no doubt that Bonfield was guilty on all counts, urging them to reject the accused man's denials.
"We would say you simply wouldn't believe his denials in the face of the evidence of all of the women who have come forward to tell us their experience with him, some when they were little girls," he said.
In his closing address, defence barrister James Sabharwal reminded jurors that his client was not required to prove his innocence, arguing the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
"There is a presumption of innocence until such time as you... decide otherwise," he told the jury.
Taking jurors through specific parts of the evidence, Mr Sabharwal pointed to one alleged victim who admitted she was "blackout drunk" when the alleged assault occurred, noting her memory of events was sometimes "vague".
He also argued that other claims of indecent touching may have been "accidental rather than intentional".
He further highlighted "inconsistencies" in witnesses' recollections, which he argued would raise doubt in the minds of jurors regarding the credibility of the claims.
Mr Sabharwal's closing arguments will continue on Thursday.
Last week, three family members who have accused a man of sexual assault denied putting their "heads together" to make "false allegations when questioned by Mr Sabharwal.
The trial before Chief Justice Lucy McCallum continues.
