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The
Dominion
November 20, 1997
Police to probe Ellis creche case allegations
Police are to investigate allegations that the detective heading the
Christchurch Civic Creche child-abuse case had intimate relations with
complainants' mothers.
Parliament's justice and law reform select committee asked Police
Commissioner Peter Doone yesterday to investigate allegations raised by
television programme 20/20 about the case.
Concerns included allegations that inquiry head Colin Eade had psychiatric
problems, had sexual relationships with the mothers of two children who
complained they were abused by creche worker Peter Ellis, and made sexual
advances to the mother of another complainant.
Concerns about withholding of evidence and possible bias of jurors have also
been raised.
Ellis was found guilty of abusing children at the creche and has served four
years of a 10-year sentence.
Mr Doone said if the allegations against Mr Eade were proven, such behaviour
would be unacceptable.
"I regard the allegations that have been made extremely seriously . . .
I can assure you that if there are any ethical, procedural or fairness
breaches on the part of the police . . . I will take every step to ensure
that justice will be done."
However, there was nothing police could do to discipline Mr Eade because he
had left the police under its early retirement provisions.
Mr Doone said he was not aware at the time of the inquiry that Mr Eade had
psychiatric problems.
The committee chairman, NZ First MP Rana Waitai, said yesterday that he had
asked Justice Minister Doug Graham to set up a commission of inquiry to
investigate irregularities in the Ellis case.
Mr Waitai, a former police commander with 31 years' experience, said all his
instincts honed as an officer told him there was something terribly wrong and
unjust in the Ellis trial.
NZ First senior whip Ron Mark said he believed Ellis was innocent and his NZ
First colleagues had agreed to do what they could "to ensure that the
injustice dealt to this man does not continue".
Mr Mark called for Ellis to be freed and pardoned or at least granted a
retrial.
He said parents of the complainants against Ellis had received lump-sum
compensation from ACC of more than $300,000 -- which was not paid back even
though most complaints were later retracted.
"The only victim in this case has been Peter Ellis; he has been wronged
and hard done by," Mr Mark said.
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