Pitcairn governor sacks rapist mayor

Pitcairn Mayor Steve Christian, sentenced last week to three years' jail on sex charges, has been sacked from the job, British High Commission spokesman Bryan Nicolson said in Wellington yesterday.

Christian, who claims to be a direct descendant of the sailor who led the mutiny on the Bounty, Fletcher Christian, was convicted of five rapes of young women.

His son Randy was sentenced to six years in prison for four rapes and five indecent assaults.

Four other islanders were also given sentences ranging from prison to community service.

The sentences handed down on Friday were suspended pending appeals by the men's defence lawyers against Britain's jurisdiction over the island.

Mr Nicolson said Steve Christian and Randy Christian, chairman of Pitcairn Island's internal committee, were given the opportunity to resign their posts, "but they were unwilling to do so". The British High Commissioner in Wellington, Richard Fell, who is also Governor of Pitcairn, dismissed the pair.

Mr Nicolson said the decision was essentially to do with links to the wider world.

"There's been an enormous amount of publicity about Pitcairn and it was not considered appropriate that some persons, having been found guilty of rape and indecent assault on children, should continue in those positions."

Mr Nicolson said that although there was some anecdotal evidence that cruise ships were having "second thoughts" about visiting the island, that was not the main reason for Mr Fell's decision.

The appointment of an interim mayor would be discussed with the island council this week, with elections for a permanent replacement probably being held in December.

- NZPA