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AAP
AAP
National
Jack Gramenz

Jury retires in trial of former NSW minister

The jury has retired to deliberate in the trial of former NSW government minister Milton Orkopoulos. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

The jury has retired following the trial of former NSW minister Milton Orkopoulos on sexual abuse and drug supply charges.

Judge Jane Culver finished summing up the trial and directed the jury before they started deliberating on Tuesday.

Orkopoulos, 65, pleaded not guilty to 28 charges including sexual offences against four underage boys he allegedly supplied drugs to over a decade, ending in 2003.

He has also been accused of perverting the course of justice by asking one complainant to retract an allegation.

That man says he was touched on the genitals and then watched naked in the shower while on holiday at Seal Rocks some time between 1993 and 1995.

Orkopoulos' barrister Paul Johnson told the District jury that man is an "unreliable storyteller" with an ability to "conjure up" facts in the witness box that he'd never mentioned before.

The document he claims to have signed could have been to address a court order the jury has been told about, which he would have wanted changed, Mr Johnson said.

"There's also no certainty on what this document actually said."

Witnesses, including the man who says he signed it, had not read it, Mr Johnson reminded the jury.

He asked the jury if they could really believe Orkopoulos could have carried on doing the things he's been accused of, brazenly in public places, while a member of the state parliament, without being caught.

"Do you really seriously see the member for Swansea having ... a whole bunch of skateboarding teenagers coming down to the office for a party?" Mr Johnson said.

Crown prosecutor Cate Dodds earlier told the jury Orkopoulos hid in plain sight while preying on teenage boys "like a wolf in sheep's clothing", supplying them with drugs before sexually abusing them.

Three jurors were balloted off before the 12 remaining retired to deliberate on Tuesday afternoon.

The judge said she could imagine their frustration after sitting on the jury for almost a month.

"I need you please to accept and understand you have paid a very valuable contribution to these trial proceedings," she said.

Extra jurors have been empanelled for trials in recent years due to COVID-19.

"You have helped us ensure right to the end we have a jury of 12 people, I can tell you through experience that's not always the case," the judge said.

The remaining 12 would have about three and a half hours to deliberate on Tuesday.

The judge said she would bring them back into court if she did not receive a note from them but stressed there was no pressure to reach a verdict by the end of the day.

"I will bring you back into the room, but there is no expectation," she said.

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