White Wigs and Red Dirt

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Pitcairn Trials - Episode 6: "White Wigs and Red Dirt"

Podcast: The Pitcairn Trials
Host: Always True Crime / Luke Jones
Date: January 23, 2025
Episode Focus: The logistics, tensions, and human stories behind the first-ever criminal trials held on the isolated island of Pitcairn, centering on a community-shaking scandal of sexual abuse and the extraordinary circumstances of holding justice in one of the world's most unusual jurisdictions.

---

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the unprecedented events leading up to and surrounding the Pitcairn sexual abuse trials of 2004. The narrative combines legal, logistical, and emotional perspectives as the tiny British dependency faces the exposure and adjudication of systemic abuse by a significant portion of its adult male population. The episode weaves together survivor testimony, legal strategy, the transformation of the island into a remote courtroom, and the cultural and social divides that surfaced at the island's 'moment of reckoning'.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background & Initial Allegations

• First Investigations:
  • The first rape allegation was investigated by Kent Police in 1996, ending in a caution.
  • By the early 2000s, multiple allegations surfaced, prompting the British Diplomatic Service to empower Simon Moore as public prosecutor.
  • In April 2003, Simon Moore returned with the decision to prosecute. Charges laid included 21 counts of rape, 41 of indecent assault, and 2 for gross indecency against nine men—constituting a quarter of the local adult male population ([03:00]).

2. On- and Off-Island Tensions

• Community Factions:
  The accused included prominent community members: the magistrate, mayor Steve Christian, and the postman.
  • The tightly-knit island made collective denial and community division inevitable.
• Attempts at Decolonisation:
  • Steve Christian attempted to invoke decolonization and self-government, even writing to UN and British authorities about independence ([05:42]).

3. Courtroom Logistics and Pre-Trial Challenges

• Unique Setting:

  • The trials would be held on Pitcairn itself, logistics requiring ships to double the island’s population, frozen food supplies, and satellite links ([10:12], [15:48]).

• Jurisdictional Disputes:

  • Defense challenged UK legal authority over Pitcairn, arguing British “Orders in Council” were invalid. These appeals were consistently dismissed ([08:21]).

• Emotional Toll on Survivors:

  • Survivor Glenda described disbelief at finally being believed after decades of denial by the community. She emphasized the psychological strain of reliving trauma throughout the process ([07:41], [08:03], [09:57]).

  Notable Quote:

  • Glenda: “We've been believed. I think that's the biggest thing that I felt.” ([07:41])

4. Life on the Island During the Trials

• Journalist’s Perspective:

  • Ewart Barnsley, a New Zealand journalist, detailed the logistical and emotional challenges of reporting from Pitcairn, as well as the surreal aspects of the tight-knit community ([10:34] onwards).
  • Media rivalry: Print journalists competed fiercely, while the TV crew’s relative independence made them less threatening to locals ([18:22]).

  Memorable Detail:

  • Journalists encountered giant, hand-sized spiders, adding to the sense of isolation and peculiarity ([17:48]).

• Accommodation and Social Life:

  • Prosecution, defense, and journalists all lived in close proximity to one another—and, in some cases, to defendants ([21:11]), with defense counsel staying in a self-built new prison ([21:33]).

  Defense Lawyer Charles Cato:

  • “Well, the men certainly made certain they will be accommodated. Yes, and it was very well done because Pitcairners are quite good at that sort of thing. We had large fridges of Argentinian beef, even prawns from Australia and a lot of food.” ([21:46])

5. Unusual Legal Proceedings

• Breadmaker Incident & Everyday Oddities:

  • Judges, kept socially apart to maintain neutrality, had misadventures such as destroying both the breadmaker and the vacuum cleaner trying to make bread—a moment of comic relief among heavy proceedings ([23:07]).

• Procedural Innovations:

  • No jury; one judge per trial, three judges total, to avoid credibility conflicts since complainants often testified in several trials ([24:27]).
  • Cases scheduled out of typical order: Complaints testifying via satellite from Auckland did so in all relevant cases in one sitting, requiring intricate scheduling (“spreadsheets… extremely complicated” [26:54]).

6. Community and Social Dynamics

• Tension and Unity:

  • A public meeting of local women, orchestrated as a media event, revealed deep divisions: some explicitly denied abuse occurred or rationalized it as cultural tradition ([27:39], [28:55]).
  • Notable Moment:
    • Ewart Barnsley: “‘Sex abuse, child sex abuse’, she said, ‘so what? It’s happening all over the world.’ As if that was some sort of excuse.” ([29:28])
  • Some women claimed underage sex was ‘traditional’ and not abuse.

• Disclosure of Defendants’ Names:

  • For the first time, accused men were publicly named and charges specified.
  • The postmaster, Dennis Christian, unexpectedly pleaded guilty to three counts—causing a dramatic shift in local dynamics ([30:54]).

7. Emotional Realities, Preparing for Testimony

• Glenda and Survivor Experience:
  • Survivor Glenda describes the stress and training needed to withstand defense cross-examination over the video link, including emotional breakdowns and the live fear of not being believed by the court ([13:09], [14:09], [14:58]).
• Courtroom Setting:
  • Court held in the Adamstown community hall, beneath a portrait of the Queen, with a TV for video testimony at $40/minute ([34:20]).
• Commencement of Trials:
  • Steve Christian first on trial, Glenda first witness—a moment heavy with symbolic and personal weight ([35:21]).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On systemic abuse and isolation of Pitcairn:
  Podcast Host:

  “The regrettable truth is that in your jurisdiction, my jurisdiction, child sexual abuse is rampant... What was different really is that all of these people were to a greater or lesser extent connected and it happened in a community where really they couldn't get off it.” ([02:10])

• On survivor vindication:
  Glenda:

  “We've been believed. I think that's the biggest thing that I felt.” ([07:41])
  “I really and truly didn't think it was going to happen... I think the world opened up and swallowed me because I couldn't believe it.” ([08:03])

• On community division:
  Ewart Barnsley:

  “People opposed to our presence and to the presence of the lawyers and the judges and all the officials from the UK. And there was another group welcomed us and very glad that this particular issue was being exposed.” ([11:44])

• On the ‘tradition’ excuse:
  Ewart Barnsley, quoting local woman:

  “‘I had sex at 12,’ she said. ‘I went in fully knowing what I was doing and I wasn’t forced.’ Underage sex was a traditional part of island life, was the argument they were pushing.” ([29:39])

• On accused breaking unity:
  Luke Jones:

  “Up until the start of the trial, all the men accused had presented this united front that they weren’t guilty of any crime. And then all of a sudden one of the defendants changed his plea and he was the postmaster.” ([30:54])

• On defense accommodation:
  Charles Cato:

  “Well, the men certainly made certain they will be accommodated. Yes, and it was very well done because Pitcairners are quite good at that sort of thing. We had large fridges of Argentinian beef, even prawns from Australia and a lot of food.” ([21:46])

---

Important Timestamps

• [03:00] – Overview of charges, scale, and first arrival of prosecutors
• [05:42] – Steve Christian’s attempts at seeking UN involvement
• [07:41] – Glenda expresses disbelief and relief at being believed
• [10:12] – Arrival of legal teams, media, and logistics of doubling the island’s population
• [13:09] – Survivors travel to New Zealand to testify
• [14:09] – Glenda prepares for aggressive cross-examination
• [15:48] – Provisions and communication logistics on the island
• [21:33] – Defense team accommodated in the prison built by the accused
• [23:07] – Judges’ breadmaker incident
• [24:27] – How judges and trials were organized to avoid conflicts
• [26:54] – Technical and legal logistics of multi-defendant, multi-complainant trials
• [27:39]–[29:39] – Women’s meeting, ‘tradition’ defense, and split community
• [30:54] – First guilty plea; breakdown of charges against other defendants
• [34:20] – Courtroom layout and the opening of trials

---

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is careful yet unsparing, blending journalistic rigor with human stories. Survivors, legal officials, and journalists are given space to speak candidly, and the unusual humor and logistical chaos of holding a major criminal trial in a remote outpost are allowed to surface amid the deeply distressing subject matter.

---

Summary

"White Wigs and Red Dirt" vividly brings to life the logistical, legal, and deeply emotional realities of seeking justice for historic abuse on a remote island community. With survivor testimony, firsthand accounts of island life mid-trial, and the behind-the-scenes perspectives of legal teams, the episode lays out not just the facts, but the human dimension of a community split by revelation and forced into the worldwide spotlight. The episode ends as the trials themselves begin, promising deeper exploration in the next instalment.

Transcript

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Your true crime story will start in just a moment, but before it does, have you got your ticket for the Always True Crime Live show? Stuart from British Murders, Mike from Murder Mile and Paul, the true crime enthusiast are teaming up for the ultimate true crime takeover at Crossed Wires Festival. They'll be diving into the details of some gripping cases in a live show that you won't want to miss. Search Crossed Wires Festival now and see all three shows with just one ticket. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

ACAST Powers the World's Best Podcasts Here's

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

a show that we recommend

[Farnoosh Tarabi]

with so much uncertainty in the economy, we need to rely on experts we can trust. So Money, hosted by me, Farnoosh Tarabi, is a Webby Award winning podcast now in its 10th year. The new York Times calls it one of the most respected personal finance shows out there. As a financial journalist for more than 20 years and best selling author, let me tell you it is a privilege to produce this show and whether you want to save more, invest or negotiate a better salary, I've got you covered with fresh episodes three times a week. And here's something extra. I'm giving away a free money call to one lucky listener every week. A chance for you and I to talk one on one and create a personal plan for your goals. Listen and subscribe to so Money. Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere.

[Charles Cato (Defense Lawyer)]

Acast.com

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

a warning this episode of the Pitcairn Trials contains graphic discussion of child sexual abuse and strong language from the start.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

The regrettable truth is that in your jurisdiction, my jurisdiction, child sexual abuse is rampant and what happened on Pitcairn was probably not that different. What was different really is that all of these people were to a greater or lesser extent connected and it happened in a community where really they couldn't get off it, and because a good number of those who were sexually abused couldn't go to her parent because the parent had either been sexually abused or had been an abuser at one time or another. It was different in that way.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The first allegation of rape on Pitcairn was investigated by Kent Police in 1996 and ended with a caution. Now, in the early 2000s a whole suite of sexual abuse allegations were on the cusp of coming to trial. The British Diplomatic Service had given the newly appointed Pitcairn public prosecutor, Simon Moore, the right to prosecute. Simon had visited the island previously to understand the community. He'd been through the case files assembled by the police and in April 2003 returned to Pitcairn with his final decision. Steve and Randy Christian, after a brief standoff, agreed to collect Simon and the rest of the visitors on the longboat and bring them ashore. When they landed, the charges were laid. In total, it was 21 of rape, 41 for indecent assault and two for gross indecency. Nine men in total were charged. Seven of them still lived on the island, so they'd be tried first. That was a quarter of the Pitcairn adult population at the time. The seven men who were charged who still lived on Pitcairn included the magistrate, the postman and the mayor, Steve Christian. This is the pitcairn trials. Episode 6 white wigs, red dirt. On the way home after the charges were laid, the ship Braveheart, which was carrying prosecutor Simon Moore, his colleague Christine Gordon and the presiding magistrate, Gray Cameron, dropped anchor near the uninhabited eno Island. It's 150km or so from Pitcairn and is what you would imagine if you closed your eyes and pictured a South Pacific island. It's white sandy beaches fringed with lush green vegetation. It's even smaller than Pitcairn and in fact, it's where the Pitcairners go on holiday to get away from it all. I don't know. Parked up the ship, prepared for dinner. Simon and co and the crew all had drinks on the deck and, well, forward wind a few months and some embarrassing pictures ended up in the newspapers. Simon Moore was forced to apologise publicly. He said in a statement, in the spirit of that moment and clearly viewing it as the ritual it appeared to be, Magistrate Cameron, Ms. Gordon and I put the wig and plastic breasts on for a brief period of time. It was a couple of minutes or so of light heartedness in the middle of the ocean. The islanders opposed to the prosecutions made absolute hay with this. Mirlda Warren is quoted in the newspapers as saying that the photos were degrading to women. This all soon blew over. Even the defence counsel said it didn't amount to professional impropriety. In the meantime, one of the accused, Steve Christian, had been engaging with the United Nations. He'd spoken at a UN seminar in Fiji during the investigation. In fact, and claimed then that the imposition of two external police officers on the island made them, quote, a police state. Now charged, he wrote to the UK's governor of Pitcairn, the British High Commissioner in New Zealand. He wanted, quote, a constructive dialogue with your government about the development of full self government for Pitcairn under the United Nations. A decolonisation work plan was desired by the island, he said. Yours sincerely, Steve Christian. Mayor Pick Kern. No mention of him being on bail for multiple rape charges. This is something Governor Martin Williams remembers some islanders tried earlier in the investigation too.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

There was a suggestion that they would quite happily sign up and ask the French to take over. And so I had to respond that if that was the decision of the majority of the island, then of course we'd have to take account of that. And we heard no more about that proposal.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Whigs and decolonisation plans dealt with, everything was ready for the trials, charges were laid and it was agreed that the trials would take place on Pitcairn itself at the end of September 2004.

[Glenda (Survivor)]

We've been believed. I think that's the biggest thing that I felt. We, after all this saying, no, they're lying, they're this, that, that and everything else. We are believed.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Glenda, who is a survivor who broke her silence after decades and decades and helped get these charges over the line, told me this was a huge relief

[Glenda (Survivor)]

and I really and truly didn't think it was going to happen. And when I was informed that it's definitely going and the date and everything else, I. I think the world opened up and swallowed me because I couldn't believe it.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

But they hadn't started yet. Pre trial applications by the defendants were put in challenging the jurisdiction of the UK over Pitcairn and the legality of the various laws that have been brought in to facilitate the trials. They argued the orders in Council from 1859 onwards, insofar as they prepare, reported to apply to Pitcairn, were unlawful, illegal, invalid, null and void and had no force or effect. The Pitcairn Court found against the defendant's arguments. The Pitcairn Court of Appeal found against them as well. The men were granted the opportunity, though, to take this appeal even higher up the chain to the Privy Council Court in London. But that hearing would be in 2005. But the criminal trials were scheduled for in a month's time. At this point, September 2004, the defence team tried to halt the trials until after this final appeal in London, but the application for stay is declined. The Application for severance is declined. Declined. When people were trying to stop the trial, you were saying, I can't go through all this and there not be a hearing at the end of it. Glenda's counsellor, Sandy Glenda, had spent two, maybe more years reliving it all from that first interview. And it would have just been awful if then nothing happened, wouldn't it?

[Glenda (Survivor)]

Yeah, I think I would have literally done myself in, to be quite honest, because to me, the others would have had victory and they would have been believed.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Towards the end of 2004, the ship Braveheart was back at Pitcairn, bringing Simon Moore and his prosecution team, Paul Daker and his defence team, three judges, a court registrar, technical support, police, a contingent of journalists. It's reported the population of Pitcairn temporarily doubled.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

I think I spent a lot of time just looking at the island as we got closer and closer to it. You know, it's an island that legends have been made of.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

You at Barnsley made the trip to report on the trial for New Zealand Television.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

There's no airstrip there at all, so sea travel was the only way. So we had to to anchor. Then we had to wait for the Pitcairn island men to come out in their traditional longboats. And a lot of these people we would be reporting on, on the courts

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

during our stay, people like Steve Christian, the mayor, longboat operator, bulldozer driver and child sex abuse defendant.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

And he did have a lot of authority. Even worse than that, he was also the island dentist. We were all horrified of getting some sort of tooth condition that would require us to go along to this house called Big Fence and have a bit of dental treatment, which not only would have been pretty primitive, but administered by someone at the center of the sex abuse trials.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The island had never seen anything like it and knew it. Says it divided the Pitcairners.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

People opposed to our presence and to the presence of the lawyers and the judges and all the officials from the uk. And there was another group welcomed us and very glad that this particular issue was being exposed.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Of all the issues to smooth over, one of the most pressing for the British authorities was guns. There were 20 firearms, the governor's office estimated at the time. It was going to be an emotional time for everyone concerned, the Deputy British Governor of Pitcair, Matthew Forbes, said, so he ordered that they were all to be handed over. The Associated Press quoted one resident as saying, we're all being treated as if we're a murdering, suicidal bunch of good for nothing sex crazed cowboys. A brief argument ensued. In fact, one British official remembers having to field a number of emails from the US gun lobby about all of this. In the end, the weapons were surrendered to the authorities with the promise that they'd get them back after the trial. As these pre trial matters were seen to on Pitcairn, the survivors of the abuse, who were to give evidence via video link, headed to Auckland in New Zealand.

[Glenda (Survivor)]

It was the first time my husband's been to New Zealand, so I was able to take him around and we were. We did a bit of shopping and bits and pieces.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Sandy, when you arrive a bit close to the trial, how did you find Glenda? How did she seem? It's odd really, because, well, you were nervous.

[Glenda (Survivor)]

Yeah.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

And anxious about it. But on the other hand, it was the place she wanted to get to, wasn't it? She was certainly prepared. Peter George from Kent Police, who had investigated this case and who'd been there when Glenda first told her story out loud, now took her through what to expect. Not only explaining what would happen and when, but also what to expect of the cross examination from the defense. Something he demonstrated. He forcefully quizzed her. What exact age were you when this happened? What year was X or Y person born?

[Glenda (Survivor)]

I couldn't. I couldn't tell him. And he was, he was so angry at me and he says, this is what it would be like. So he didn't hold back, let's put it that way. And I took offense to it because. Because I thought, he's getting angry at me. Why is he getting. This was going through my brain. Why is he getting angry with me? And he really was angry, absolutely red

[Charles Cato (Defense Lawyer)]

in the face with fury,

[Narrator/Advertiser]

just to

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

calm me down and explain.

[Glenda (Survivor)]

And then he said, this is what it's going to be like. If you can't give these answers, then, you know, you got to get.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

And was that an alive fear for you, that you go through all of this stress and all this, it gets to trial and not guilty?

[Glenda (Survivor)]

Yes, it was.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

I think it was around the time that I arrived that you found out where you were going to give the video evidence? I can remember us going to the barrister's chambers.

[Glenda (Survivor)]

Yes.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

In New Zealand. There was a kind of a calmness, I would say, that almost came over Glenda at that point.

[Glenda (Survivor)]

When I actually went in, I thought, yay, here we come.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

As the trials loomed, a new outsider community on Pitcairn organized itself around the resident community. Community. They were there to examine logistically, it

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

was a big job.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Prosecutor Simon Moore, some weeks before we

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

were due to land on the island. A large frozen shipment of the food landed, I suspect in a container. Frozen food was placed in the deep freezers of accommodation facilities and electricity was provided by diesel generator which supplied the whole of the island. I think that turned off at 10 o' clock at night. I mean, phone calls could be made, but were hideously expensive. But by the time the trials themselves started, I think there was access to satellite farms.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

There were different groups in different accommodations scattered around the island. Some of them mixed, some of them. What with this being a trial, didn't Ewart Barnsley was with the rest of the media.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

We were allowed to bring our own alcohol onto the island to get us through fairly torrid months. We also took a lot of food as well. I took biscuits, favourite biscuits from New Zealand, ginger nuts and chocolate biscuits. Chocolate fingers. Took baked beans. There were six journalists. There was me and my cameraman. There was a reporter from Radio New Zealand and three print reporters. And we were all put together into one little house. Quite a modern little house, had three or four bedrooms. I had to bunk down with my cameraman and our bedroom also served as our little editing suite as well. And I think probably the first things was just to settle down and get accustomed to each other living there with six journalists. It brings to mind there was an old TV comedy show from Britain called the Young Ones.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The Young Ones, where four very different students are shoved together in a house. A punk, a hippie, a radical, a teddy boy and a violent hamster. Ewart doesn't divulge who he casts himself as, but safe to say the whole

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

thing sounds chaotic, just crazy at times. Pitcairn doesn't have any natural nasty things on the island, but they do have these giant spiders. They're about as big as your hand and they were crawling around the lounge and the kitchen and they gave us all a bit of a fright when we first got there. My job there was to get up at 5 o' clock every morning and go outside to a shed next door and light the fire under a copper boiler so that we had enough hot water for showers and cooking and all that sort of thing.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The journalists were all after the same story and as Ewart tells me, the three print journalists especially were trying to get ahead of one another, two of

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

them representing papers from Fleet Street. So there was quite a bit of competition there. Those three were keeping an eye on each other to make sure that no one got the jump on the others in terms of stories or scoops.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

There was also a difference in the way the islanders responded to them. Ewart remembers the print journalists moved as a pack. Some of the islanders were wary of them, he says, whereas Ewart and his cameraman were roaming around the island on their quad bike picking up scenic shots. So he thinks they were seen as less troublesome. So much so that they were invited to one of the defendant's birthday parties. It was hard at times, though, he says, to stay on an even keel.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

Well, I think I probably did go mental. But what saved me was I had that little shed, like disappearing there for three or four hours, the start of the day, and I had that time to myself. Took my book and a packet of biscuits or a box of chocolates and I was left pretty much alone there. Just as long as I kept the fire going. That was my lifeline, really.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Glenda (Survivor)]

Lunch was great, but this traffic is awful.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Um, can we stop at a bathroom? Are you alright? I keep having stomach issues after eating like diarrhea, gas and bloating, abdominal pain

[Farnoosh Tarabi]

and sometimes oily stools.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Sound familiar? Those stomach issues may actually be a pancreas issue called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or epi. CRE pancrelipase may help manage epi. Creon is a prescription medicine used to treat people who can't digest food normally because their pancreas doesn't make enough enzymes.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Creon may increase your chance of fibrosing colonopathy, a rare bowel disorder. Tell your doctor if you have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall, if you are allergic to pork or if you have gout, kidney problems or worsening of painful, swollen joints. Call your doctor if you have any unusual or severe gastrointestinal symptoms or allergic reactions. Take Creon as directed by your doctor and always with food. Do not chew capsules as this may cause mouth irritation. Other side effects may include blood sugar changes, gas, dizziness, sore throat and cough. These are not all the side effects of Creon. Call 8639110 or visit creoninfo.com to learn more. That's C R E O-N info.com I'm

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

asking my doctor about EPI and if Creon could Help. So the journalists were in one house, Simon and the prosecution team were in another.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

Our accommodation was very comfortable. It was odd because we were living right next door to one of the defendants, but that's what happened on the island.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

They were in a bright green building known as the pink house. And then there was the defence team who were arguably in one of the comfiest accommodations, the new prison which the

[Charles Cato (Defense Lawyer)]

men had built for themselves.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

This is Charles Cato, who was one of the defense lawyers. The island's men had to build a prison pre trial in case they needed to be put in one post trial.

[Charles Cato (Defense Lawyer)]

Paul Dacre, Alan and I were accommodated in decent rooms with an ensuite in each. And also in there were the registrar of the court. We had a nice balcony looking out. We spent many pleasurable evenings cooking. We were also very comfortable. Well, the men certainly made certain they will be accommodated. Yes, and it was very well done because pit cannons are quite good at that sort of thing. We had large fridges of Argentinian beef, even prawns from Australia and a lot of food. The judges somehow missed out. I suspect there was a breakdown in logistics.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The three judges were in yet another separate house. And as the rest of the island sort of mingled, the judges very much kept themselves to themselves. They didn't want to be compromised by getting involved in community life. They had to be separate and it sounds difficult. The defence had their big freezer of foreign beef. The journalists had brought booze, biscuits, beans. The judges had to whip up their own treats.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

The judges apparently got into bread making.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Prosecutor Simon Moore again, they had a

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

one of those bread making machines.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The person in charge of this was Judge Jane Lovell Smith. But one day she was out walking or what have you, leaving Chief Justice Charles Blackie and Judge Russell Johnson home alone wanting bread. They thought they'd be helpful and gave it a go.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

They put in the flour and read the instructions, put the water and everything into the machine, but didn't realize, in fact you need to put that into that sort of Teflon coated device that fits in the bread maker with the agitator at the bottom. And instead they ordered into that space in the bread maker and turned it on. The goo fell into the mechanics of the bread maker and caused all kinds of problems. So they thought that the best way to resolve that was to use the vacuum cleaner to suck it all out and ended up wrecking both machines.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

There is a joke to be made about all rise which I will not be stooping to. There were three judges in these cases and no juries. I guess, for obvious reasons, the trial of each defendant would have one judge at the helm. And doing the maths, the authorities realised that for the seven defendants in these trials, they needed three judges to make it work.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

The logistics of which judge would hear which cases was very tricky. You had to make sure that no judge would be making credibility findings in favor of a complainant in one trial and then that same complainant giving evidence in another trial against another defendant.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Yes. So in the same way that Glenda appeared as a witness in the Steve Christian and also the Len Brown trials, you couldn't have the same judge doing both of those?

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

Couldn't have the same judge? No, because the judge says, right, well, I believe Glenda in that case. And then, hey presto, they just happened to be the same judge in the Steve Christian case. Oh, I've already made that determination of credibility in favour of Glenda and separate credibility findings need to be made. Glenda's quite a good example because quite a few complainants were witnesses as complainants in several cases involving different defendants. So we had to sit down and analyse our global case in terms of working out how many judges we would need to have, which would have to be the minimum available to not have issues of conflict.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Another unique aspect was how the trials would be ordered. And normally you'd try each defendant in turn, meaning that if people like Glenda had evidence to give in multiple trials, she'd have to appear multiple times as and when she was required in each trial. But on Pitcairn, they decided to do things differently.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

You're quite right, I'd completely forgotten that. So cases would be part heard. I might open the case against, say, Steve Christian and say, well, these are the complainants and what they will say is, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And I call first and then I'd call that one and that complainant might be a complainant in another case. So we'd adjourn that trial, part heard, and then the others would come in and the prosecutor would open the case in relation to that defendant with this complainant.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The logic being that once you had one complainant ready on the video link from Auckland to give evidence, let's just make her go through all of this once and open and adjourn. Open and adjourn each of the cases whilst they had her there.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

Again, that was something that we had to do with spreadsheets because it was extremely complicated.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Sounds like a nightmare.

[Charles Cato (Defense Lawyer)]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

But we got there through the industry of some very smart people.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The trials were Almost ready. Then everyone was present and accounted for. A complicated system for how the cases would be heard was devised. Final Pitcairn twists were thrown in. However, the defendants tried to get Chief Justice Blackie taken off the case, accusing him of bias because he met with the British Minister for Overseas Territories, Baroness Scotland. That didn't get anywhere. And the day before the trials began, a public meeting was called.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

The story we sent back to New Zealand was the Woman of Pitcairn Unite on the eve of the sex abuse trials that could destroy the island. I. I went to Big Fence once. That's when we were called there for

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

a meeting called by the women of Pitcairn. Big Fence was the home of Steve Christian. It was the big house at the top of the hill of difficulty.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

When the women folk got together, it was a big display of unity. Just before the trials started, it was a very large room with windows looking out across the cliff out into the Pacific. I remember it was a beautiful day. It was sunny, sea looked very blue and inviting. And all the women were just seated around all the walls.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Can you explain that for me? How did you hear word that was happening?

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

They had arranged was a media event. So we all turned up there. You could tell that even though all the women folk were there, there were divisions because some of them did a lot of talking in support of the men and others just remained silent. It wasn't a show just to show that there was unity and support for their men.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

What kind of arguments were they putting forward?

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

Well, I think one of the main argument was that this, what had happened, wasn't true. There was a sort of a feeling of conspiracy that the British government really wanted to close the island down. And this was how they were going to do it, by locking up all the men folk.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

There's no evidence that this was ever a consideration. But remember, some ministers had spoken of a voluntary depopulation of the island. Ewart members interviewing one of the women after the event, and she said to

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

us, sex abuse, child sex abuse. She said, so what? It's happening all over the world. As if that was some sort of excuse.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

There's never been a rape on the island, One of the women told Hewitt and his New Zealand TV cameraman. I had sex at 12, she said. I went in fully knowing what I was doing and I wasn't forced. Underage sex was a traditional part of island life, was the argument they were pushing.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

They knew that we would publicize that, particularly us, because we had the pictures. And I think it was their way of saying, we're not going to be broken by the authorities.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

An island community that was born from a fight with the British naval authorities over 200 years later was still putting up a fight. The final piece of the puzzle known to the islanders, of course, but finally revealed to the world, was the names of the accused and what they were being charged with. There had been a court order in place preventing their identification, but even in 2004, their names had appeared online in some quarters. So Judge Blackie lifted the ban. Nine men had been charged. Two were going to be tried at a later date because they lived off the island. So that left seven.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

Then one of the biggest moments I recall was that up until the start of the trial, all the men accused had presented this united front that they weren't guilty of any crime. And then all of a sudden one of the defendants changed his plea and he was the postmaster.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

That was Dennis Christian. He pleaded guilty to three counts, two of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child when he was between 16 and 19 and the sexual assault of a 12 year old when he was 27. He emailed the first woman to apologise and express his remorse. The court heard the second, who had survived numerous episodes of abuse from the island's men, said in a victim impact statement, quote, I'm fearful of the accused in the community. Without real rehabilitation, I don't trust them. Many have denied what they have done. I feel I need some kind of proof and reassurance that they are not angry or revengeful. The remaining charges which went to trial, related to J. Warren, the island's magistrate, who was charged with one count of indecent assault against a 13 year old girl. Dave Brown, who pled guilty to some counts, three of indecently assaulting two 15 year old girls when he was in his mid 30s. He was facing trial for 12 other counts though relating to indecent assault and unlawful intercourse with children. One of them was 13 years old when he was 35. Terry Young faced eight counts including indecent assault of a girl under the age of 13 and raping a 12 year old. Randy Christian, one of Steve's sons, faced 15 charges, including raping a girl when she was 10 and he was 20, and raping and then assisting his brother Sean, who lived off the island, now of raping an 11 year old. This is the case that Peter and Rob had to go to Norfolk island to interview Randy and Shawn about the case, which really got Operation Unique rolling. Finally, there were six charges of rape for Steve Christian, Randy and Sean's father. Four of those related to Glenda. He also faced four charges of indecent assault. And the seventh man, a story we haven't told yet, but will was Len Brown. He faced two charges of raping a teenage girl. Glenda.

[Charles Cato (Defense Lawyer)]

Len was a. He was an older man. He'd be in his 70s.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Defense lawyer Charles Cato Steve Christian is quite a man.

[Charles Cato (Defense Lawyer)]

Would have been in his 60s, I think early 60s. Well he was obviously very concerned but Steve Christian wouldn't blink an eye. I think Dave Brown wasn't made of quite such stuff nor was he quite the man. Stephen Christian MODEL There was a very nice fellow called Dennis who was a postmaster. He was a bit younger. Randy was Steve's son. He was even younger.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The courtroom was in Adamstown.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

The sort of community heart of the island was the square. There was a large slab of concrete in the middle of it, about the size of a tennis or netball court.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

Ewart went there every day for the hearings.

[Ewart Barnsley (Journalist)]

On one side was the library and the post office. At one end of it was a Seventh Day Adventist church and at the opposite end to the church was the community hall was a very long building, had a very large portrait of the Queen on the wall and it also had a pull down screen for showing movies. That's where they held the trials. There were three judges underneath the portrait of the Queen there was their bench and then the lawyers were seated on either side of the hall in front of them and at the back there were about three or four rows of benches for the public.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

The day finally arrived. The judges arrived in their robes, but not wigs. The lawyers had been given special dispensation to lose the horse hair because of the humidity. The press and a handful of spectators took their places and the satellite video link to Auckland was tuned into on the television at a cost of 40American dollars. 30 of your British pounds a minute. One of the team remembers the Pitcairn trials had begun. On day one. Judge Blackie was sitting in the case of Steve Christian. He was the first defendant to appear and Glenda was the first witness. Just thinking about the trials themselves actually there's one of the victims in particular who I've done quite a number of interviews with and worked quite a lot with Glenda I remember particularly. Why is that?

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

No, no, I just said I remember. I remember Glenda particularly because her story was especially poignant

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

through the trial.

[Glenda (Survivor)]

I did lose it at one point. I can remember it but I also can remember standing up and just losing it.

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

That's next time on The Pitcairn Trials Episode 7 Taking a Stand the Pitcairn Trials were an audio always production. The series was presented by me, Luke Jones, produced by Lucy Ditchmont, our assistant producer was Mansi Vithlali, sound design by Craig Edmondson and the Executive Producer is Joe Meek. If you've been affected by anything in this story and would like to speak to somebody, there is a list and links to organisations that can offer help and advice on our show page.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

ACAS powers the World's Best Podcasts Here's

[Luke Jones (Presenter)]

a show that we recommend Hi, I'm Henrik and I make a podcast called Fall Asleep with Henrik. It's for people who can't sleep and it's just me. I talk for about an hour. I improvise. No script, no music, no advice, nothing you really need to do. You don't even have to listen to be honest. Just put it on and let yourself drift. Fall Asleep with Henrik is available wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host/ACAST Representative]

ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere.

[Charles Cato (Defense Lawyer)]

Acast.com

[Narrator/Advertiser]

want more true Crime this podcast and loads more are part of the Always True Crime network. It's packed with box sets to binge and twisted tales you won't find anywhere else. Find your next podcast obsession@always truecrime.com.