Pitcairn sex abuse appeal begins

The six men were convicted last year. Top L-R: Dennis Christian, Randy Christian, Steve Christian. Bottom L-R: Terry Young, Dave Brown, Len Brown.

A satellite video will link the remote Pitcairn Island with a New Zealand courtroom today as six island men challenge their convictions for sexual assault and rape of girls.

The men were convicted and sentenced last October on a range of sex charges but the Pitcairn Supreme Court today will begin a hearing a legal challenge to the laws used to convict the men.

The Pitcairn Supreme Court sits in Papakura District Court, Auckland, room under special New Zealand legislation.

Pitcairn prosecutor, Christine Gordon, one of the Auckland lawyers appointed by the British Government, which has jurisdiction over the island, said the hearing was likely to last all this week and possibly into next week.

"It depends on what the court wants to do on sitting days. I am confident it will go at least a week," she said.

Ms Gordon, Simon Moore, Fletcher Pilditch and Simon Mount will appear for the British Government.

"We will be calling some evidence so there will be some evidence and legal issues as well," Ms Gordon said.

The sentences for the six men were suspended until the appeals were heard.

Pitcairn mayor Steve Christian, found guilty of five rapes including that of a 12-year-old girl, was sentenced to three years jail.

His 30-year-old son Randy Christian, guilty of four rapes and five indecent assaults, was sentenced to six years.

Len Brown, 78, guilty of two rapes, was sentenced to two years, but was given leave to apply for home detention on the island.

His son Dave Brown, who pleaded guilty to indecent assaults, was ordered to perform 400 hours of community service and to attend counselling. Dennis Christian, Steve Christian's cousin, who pleaded guilty to indecent and sexual assaults, was ordered to perform 300 hours community service and attend counselling.

Terry Young, convicted of one rape and six indecent assaults, was sentenced to five years.

Pitcairn Island has a population of 47, most of them direct descendants of Fletcher Christian and his band of mutineers who took over the British naval ship Bounty in 1789.

The men have yet to have heard another appeal against Britain's jurisdiction over the island.

They say Britain never controlled the island therefore its legal system does not apply.

No date has been set for that hearing.

Pitcairn is half way between New Zealand and Peru and is controlled by a British official based in Wellington.

The British Government is meeting the costs of the trials and appeals which are expected to run into millions of dollars.

- NZPA