A rape trial is back on in the High Court after a three-day hiatus because the Judge had Covid-19.

Judge Dame Judith Potter tested positive last Thursday. She was three days into the trial which is expected to take two weeks.

Judge Potter returned on Tuesday and the trial resumed. The trial has now been pushed back and is scheduled to finish on Wednesday next week.

It will continue with the same 12-person jury and witnesses who have given evidence will not have to do it again.

Moe Pirangi is charged with 14 offences, five of these are charges of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 12, six are indecent assault on a girl under the age of 12 and three are entering with intent to cause a crime.

In the Crown’s opening statement last week, the court heard the alleged victims were four girls aged between seven to 12-years-old at the time.

The incidents allegedly took place from around 2019 to 2021.