Steve Christian
Encyclopedia
Steven Raymond Christian (born 26 June 1951, Pitcairn Island) is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands
.
, a British dependency in the Pacific Ocean, from 7 December 1999 to 30 October 2004. As such, he was the local head of government of what is the smallest generally recognised country in the world with regard to population, as the Pitcairn Islands have a total population of only 45, as of December 2005. He also acts as the island's supervising engineer/mechanic
, dentist and X-ray
technician, and as coxswain
of the longboat
, which is described as Pitcairn's umbilical cord to the outside world. He was formally dismissed from office on 30 October 2004, following his rape conviction
on 24 October.
, leader of the mutineers in the late 18th century on the HMS Bounty, a story told in the 1932 Nordoff
and Hall
novel Mutiny on the Bounty
, and several subsequent motion picture versions. He is the son of Ivan Roa Christian
and Verna Carlene "Dobrey" Young a descendent of Ned Young
. Ivan Roa Christian is the son of Richard Charles Edgar Christian and nephew of Charles Richard Parkin Christian
, and is the grandson of Francis Hickson Christian. Public respect for his lineage gave him considerable de facto influence long before he held political office, first as a member of the Island Council
in 1976. He again served on the Council in 1982, and was briefly Chairman of the Internal Committee (considered the second-most influential political position on the island) in 1985. He was to hold this position again in 1991 and 1992, 1994 and 1995, and 1998 and 1999, when he was elected as the island's first Mayor. The title was new but the office was not: the Mayor had previously been known as the Magistrate.
He married Olive Jal Brown in 1972 and they have four children. Trent, Randy, Shawn and Tania.
. Over the course of the trial, it was alleged that Christian repeatedly raped or assaulted a number of island women, including some children, over a period of several years. – using the remoteness of the island and his position of power to coerce their silence. Christian denied all accusations of impropriety, but admitted having consensual sex with several of his accusers. Christian pleaded not guilty to all charges of rape and indecent assault, but on 24 October 2004, he was convicted of committing five rapes between 1964 and 1975 (He was acquitted of a sixth rape charge and of four indecent assault charges).
On 8 November 2004, Christian's sister Brenda
, the island's sole police officer, was elected by the Island Council
to succeed him in an interim capacity, pending elections scheduled for 15 December, when Jay Warren, the acquitted former magistrate, was elected mayor.
Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands , officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, form a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Pacific...
.
Mayor
He was the Mayor of the Pitcairn IslandsPitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands , officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, form a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Pacific...
, a British dependency in the Pacific Ocean, from 7 December 1999 to 30 October 2004. As such, he was the local head of government of what is the smallest generally recognised country in the world with regard to population, as the Pitcairn Islands have a total population of only 45, as of December 2005. He also acts as the island's supervising engineer/mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
, dentist and X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
technician, and as coxswain
Coxswain
The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ...
of the longboat
Longboat
In the days of sailing ships, a vessel would carry several ship's boats for various uses. One would be a longboat, an open boat to be rowed by eight or ten oarsmen, two per thwart...
, which is described as Pitcairn's umbilical cord to the outside world. He was formally dismissed from office on 30 October 2004, following his rape conviction
Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004
On 30 September 2004, seven men living on Pitcairn Island , went on trial facing 55 charges relating to sexual offences. On 24 October, all but one of the defendants were found guilty on at least some of the charges they faced...
on 24 October.
Background
Christian is a patrilineal descendant of Fletcher ChristianFletcher Christian
Fletcher Christian was a master's mate on board the Bounty during William Bligh's fateful voyage to Tahiti for breadfruit plants...
, leader of the mutineers in the late 18th century on the HMS Bounty, a story told in the 1932 Nordoff
Charles Nordhoff
Charles Bernard Nordhoff was an English-born American novelist and traveler.-Early life:Charles Nordhoff was born in London, England, on February 1, 1887, to American parents. His father was Walter Nordhoff, a wealthy businessman and author of The Journey of the Flame penned under the name...
and Hall
James Norman Hall
James Norman Hall was an American author best known for the novel Mutiny on the Bounty with co-author Charles Nordhoff.-Biography:Hall was born in Colfax, Iowa, where he attended the local schools...
novel Mutiny on the Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty (novel)
For the actual event described in this book, see Mutiny on the Bounty.Mutiny on the Bounty is the title of the 1932 novel by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, based on the mutiny against Lieutenant William Bligh, commanding officer of the Bounty in 1789. It has been made into several films...
, and several subsequent motion picture versions. He is the son of Ivan Roa Christian
Ivan Christian
Ivan Roa Christian is a former politician from Pitcairn. He was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island from 1976 to 1984. As his surname suggests, he is descended from the original mutineers who settled the island, led by Fletcher Christian...
and Verna Carlene "Dobrey" Young a descendent of Ned Young
Ned Young
Edward "Ned" Young , was a British sailor, mutineer from the famous HMS Bounty incident, and co-founder of the mutineers' Pitcairn Island settlement. He was noted for his ability to sleep through important events....
. Ivan Roa Christian is the son of Richard Charles Edgar Christian and nephew of Charles Richard Parkin Christian
Charles Richard Parkin Christian
Charles Richard Parkin Christian was a long-serving politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island for eleven years at various times between 1920 and 1957...
, and is the grandson of Francis Hickson Christian. Public respect for his lineage gave him considerable de facto influence long before he held political office, first as a member of the Island Council
Island Council (Pitcairn)
The Island Council is the legislative body of the Pitcairn Islands. It also doubles as the court of the British dependency, making it one of the few bodies in the world to possess both legislative and judicial authority.The Council has ten members...
in 1976. He again served on the Council in 1982, and was briefly Chairman of the Internal Committee (considered the second-most influential political position on the island) in 1985. He was to hold this position again in 1991 and 1992, 1994 and 1995, and 1998 and 1999, when he was elected as the island's first Mayor. The title was new but the office was not: the Mayor had previously been known as the Magistrate.
He married Olive Jal Brown in 1972 and they have four children. Trent, Randy, Shawn and Tania.
The sexual assault trial
In 2004, Steve Christian, along with six other men, was tried on charges of rape and child sexual abuse by the Pitcairn Supreme CourtSupreme Court (Pitcairn)
The Supreme Court of the Pitcairn Islands was a special court set up to try the Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004. As the Pitcairns have a minimal population they have never had an extensive formal legal system...
. Over the course of the trial, it was alleged that Christian repeatedly raped or assaulted a number of island women, including some children, over a period of several years. – using the remoteness of the island and his position of power to coerce their silence. Christian denied all accusations of impropriety, but admitted having consensual sex with several of his accusers. Christian pleaded not guilty to all charges of rape and indecent assault, but on 24 October 2004, he was convicted of committing five rapes between 1964 and 1975 (He was acquitted of a sixth rape charge and of four indecent assault charges).
On 8 November 2004, Christian's sister Brenda
Brenda Christian
Brenda Vera Amelia Lupton-Christian is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Mayor of the Pitcairn Islands :...
, the island's sole police officer, was elected by the Island Council
Island Council (Pitcairn)
The Island Council is the legislative body of the Pitcairn Islands. It also doubles as the court of the British dependency, making it one of the few bodies in the world to possess both legislative and judicial authority.The Council has ten members...
to succeed him in an interim capacity, pending elections scheduled for 15 December, when Jay Warren, the acquitted former magistrate, was elected mayor.