Pitcairn trial delay bid fails

Pitcairn Supreme Court, sitting in Auckland, yesterday threw out an application by seven islanders to have their trial on sex offences delayed until the Privy Council could consider their case.

The men, facing a total of 96 sex charges, are due to stand trial on Pitcairn Island next month.

Last week, the Pitcairn Supreme Court dismissed two applications to have the charges thrown out because the delay in bringing them to trial amounted to an abuse of process, and another seeking separate trials.