Pitcairn Islander faces Australian extradition hearing

The remote Pitcairn Islands have been rocked by child sex trials.

SYDNEY - A Pitcairn Islander will face an extradition hearing in Australia next week.

The British government requested Shawn Brent Christian, a resident of Newcastle, New South Wales, be extradited to New Zealand to face a specially constituted Pitcairn Island court on two charges of rape and one of aiding and abetting another to rape.

Pitcairn Island is Britain's last dependent territory in the Pacific.

Christian was denied bail in Newcastle Local Court earlier this week and was due to face an extradition hearing in Central Local Court today.

But his lawyer, Adrian Cook QC, requested the hearing be put off until new evidence could be collected and presented to the court.

Mr Cook said Christian was the only one of 13 men charged with sex offences on the island who was not granted bail.

He also foreshadowed fresh evidence regarding the extradition application, which could further delay proceedings.

Magistrate Allan Moore remanded Christian in custody to appear in Central Local Court next Friday.

Former Pitcairn Mayor Steve Christian was sentenced in October to three years' jail for 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 were suspended pending appeals by the men's defence lawyers against Britain's jurisdiction over the island. These are due to be heard in London and New Zealand this year.

- AAP, HERALD STAFF