27 Sep 2004

Trial of seven on sex abuse charges begins in Pitcairn this week

7:34 am on 27 September 2004

The trial of seven Pitcairn Islanders on sex abuse charges begins this week.

The men face a total of 55 charges, including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency.

Pitcairn Island is one of the most remote inhabited places in the world, and with a population of just 47, is Britain's last remaining territory in the Pacific.

The accused make up a large proportion of the able bodied adults in the tight-knit community and the men are considered pivotal to the running of the island.