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The Dominion
September 30, 1996
Skeptics give to Ellis defence fund
The New Zealand Skeptics have
given $2500 to the defence trust set up on behalf of convicted creche worker
Peter Ellis.
The decision to award the money was made by unanimous vote at the annual
meeting of the Skeptics in Hamilton.
"The conviction and continued incarceration of Peter Ellis is very
disturbing," treasurer Bernard Howard said. "The Ellis saga bears
all the hallmarks of childcare sex-abuse witch-hunts witnessed in the United
States in the late 1980s.
"In light of current understandings of children's testimony and their
susceptibility to suggestion, it is very unlikely Ellis would be convicted if
his trial were held today."
The jury had been denied acess to important evidence which might have altered
its assessment of the accusations against Ellis, Professor Howard said.
"This was a clear violation of natural justice.
"The handling of the case needs to be the subject of an independent
inquiry," he said.
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