|
|
The Christchurch Civic
Creche Case |
|
The Court of Appeal will this morning release its
decision on an appeal by former Christchurch creche worker Peter Ellis
against sexual abuse convictions. Ellis has appealed -against 16 convictions on
charges that he molested children in his care at the Christchurch Civic
Childcare Centre between 1986 and 1991. The charges involve seven, children
who were aged under five when the offences allegedly took place. A complainant on whose evidence three of the
convictions were based retracted her allegations during the appeal process,
saying she had made them to please her mother. Defence counsel Graham
Panckhurst argued the withdrawal was compelling, while Crown counsel Brent
Stan-away pointed to a report which said the girl may-have been driven by a
desire to get Ellis out of her life. Mr Stanaway said at the appeal that if convictions
on the three charges were quashed by the Appeal Court no . further trial
would be sought by the Crown. The Appeal Court has several options in disposing
of the appeal. The judges could.dismiss the appeal and Ellis would continue
to serve his 10-year sentence at Paparua Prison. The appeal could be allowed, with Ellis being
acquitted or given a new trial. If acquitted he would be released a free man.
If a new trial was ordered the Crown Solicitor in Christchurch, Mr Stanaway,
and the Solicitor-General would have to decide whether to proceed to a second
trial, and in the meantime Ellis would have to seek bail. The appeal against conviction was based on
several'grounds. One was that the jury's verdicts were said to be
unreasonable on grounds that the evidence of the children was not credible
and was unfairly obtained through the interviewing process. |
