Pitcairn Island justice costly but worth the price

The price of justice was steep for a minor case resolved this week on tiny Pitcairn Island.

On being convicted of assaulting a police officer, island resident Meralda Warren was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months, and ordered to pay costs of $60.

The true cost of the case - which includes transporting by air and sea a magistrate (Hugh Fulton), prosecutor (Simon Mount) and defence lawyer (Allan Roberts) from New Zealand to the 4.5 sq km volcanic island midway to Peru - may reach $40,000.

Yet the British Government, which foots the bill as the island's administrator, considers it money well spent.

"Yes, it will be expensive but at the end of the day the principle is more important," said Pitcairn Deputy Governor Matthew Forbes.

"You have to enforce the rule of law on Pitcairn like any other community," said Mr Forbes, who is based at the British High Commission in Wellington. The judge from New Zealand had provided training to the local magistrate, raising the prospect of the island dealing with minor cases itself in future.

Prosecutor Simon Mount said the case showed the British Government was committed to the rule of law on Pitcairn.

"The assault was a direct challenge to the authority of the police officer, and the offender even used the words 'There's no f*****g law here'.

The result shows she's not correct about that."

Meralda Warren, a former Pitcairn police officer, was found guilty of assaulting the current policewoman, Brenda Christian, at a party held in the remand centre built to house some of the men found guilty last year at the Pitcairn incest, child rape and gang rape trial.

Evidence included that Meralda Warren had called the victim and another woman "whores" during the incident, in which Brenda Christian was hit in the face. Brenda Christian is the sister of Steve Christian, who was convicted of five rapes and sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

Meralda Warren's brother, Jay Warren, Pitcairn's mayor, was acquitted on the sole charge he faced - indecently assaulting a young girl.

None of the sentences have started for the men because their defence lawyers are appealing to the Privy Council in London next year on the grounds that Britain has no jurisdiction over the island.

PRINCIPLE OF LAW

* Pitcairn resident Meralda Warren, convicted of assaulting a police officer, is ordered to pay costs of $60.

* The cost of bringing in a judge, prosecutor and defence lawyer may reach $40,000.

* British Government considers the principle worth the cost.