Pitcairn Islander due back in court on sex charges

A Pitcairn Islander due back in court today on sex charges is expected to ask for his bail conditions to be varied and to argue for name suppression in a criminal case which has no legal precedent in New Zealand.

The 29-year-old man is facing three charges of rape and has already appeared in the Pitcairn Magistrate's Court which sat in Papakura 11 days ago.

His first appearance came after he agreed to be extradited by the British Government from Australia to New Zealand.

The Pitcairn Magistrate's Court has been sitting in New Zealand under a special act of the New Zealand Government but is considered to be a British Court.

Because it is a British Court sitting under special dispensation in New Zealand some of the orders made in the court, for example a suppression order, cannot be applied in New Zealand.

It is believed to be the first time court orders made in New Zealand cannot technically be enforced.

The man's name was suppressed when he appeared last month and he was remanded on bail which prevented him from leaving New Zealand or contacting the alleged victim.

The man's name has not been widely published in New Zealand although it has been published in several other countries.

The man is understood to want a bail variation which would allow him to return to Australia but that is likely to be opposed in court today.

- NZPA