Appeal against Pitcairn Island sex charges fails

Six Pitcairn Islanders convicted of sex charges against women and underage girls on the Island have failed in their attempt to appeal their convictions.

The appeal in the Pitcairn Court of Appeal -- sitting in Auckland -- was dismissed.

The men had argued that the British legal system under which they were convicted did not apply to them because they were Pitcairn Islanders and the English judicial system had not been ratified or approved by the island.

However, the judgment concluded "none of what can be described as the general grounds of appeal has been made out".

- NZPA