Pitcairn mayor stands trial for abuse

The mayor of tiny Pitcairn Island – home to the descendants of the 18th-century Bounty mutineers – yesterday became the first of seven island men to stand trial for sex abuse, in a case that has split the isolated community.

Steve Christian appeared in the specially-built courtroom to face six charges of rape and four charges of indecent assault on four women over the period from 1964-75.