A priest accused of molesting eight boys at two Victorian schools admits giving children alcohol and cigarettes but denies he ever abused them.
Salesian priest David Edwin Rapson has pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault and five counts of rape at Lysterfield College and Rupertswood College between the 1970s and 1990.
Rapson's barrister Shaun Ginsbourg told a Victorian County Court jury that Rapson had given some children cigarettes and alcohol but denied all of the abuse allegations.
"It is true that he's crossed the line in terms of socialising with children but that doesn't make him a sex abuser," Mr Ginsbourg told the court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor David Cordy previously told the court that the crown case relied heavily on the evidence of the eight alleged victims.
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However, Mr Ginsbourg said the lapse in time between the alleged incidents and the accusations coming to light made it difficult to test the evidence.
"It makes it hard for you to convict Mr Rapson based on the age of the complaints," he said.
"The lapse of time should make you more careful in accepting that these allegations are true."
The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict on Tuesday afternoon.
