"Waikato Times"

Hamilton, New Zealand

November 20, 1997

Page 9

"MPs express doubt about Ellis' guilt"

Two MPs have gone public with their doubts about the guilt of Peter Ellis while Police Commissioner Peter Doone has agreed to hold an inquiry into investigations that led to the conviction.

Ellis was found guilty of sexually abusing children at the Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre between 1986 and 1992, and has served four years of a 10-year sentence at Rolleston Prison.

Mr Doone agreed to an inquiry at a select committee hearing in Parliament after Labour MP Phil Goff raised claims that were the focus of a damning 20/20 television programme on Sunday.

Mr Goff's questions centred on allegations that Detective Colin Eade, who headed the investigation but is no longer in the force, had intimate relationships with the mothers of two of the child complainants and had suffered from psychological difficulties.

"That sort of behaviour wouldnot be tolerated," Mt Doone told the justice and law reform committee. He said he could not reach any conclusions until the investigation had been held.

New Zealand First MP Rana Waitai, a former police district commander with 31 years' experience in the force, backed the inquiry and said all his instincts told him there was "something terribly wrong and unjust in the Ellis trial"

He said he was not criticising the court system because courts could deal only with material in front of them.

"I have the support of the New Zealand First caucus to pursue this matter on behalf of Peter Ellis. I intend to visit Christchurch to talk to people who I believe still hold vital information on this matter."

NZ First chief whip Ron Mark, a list MP from Christchurch, said his talks with people close to Ellis had led him to believe he was innocent.

After the select committee hearing yesterday, Mr Goff raised the issue in Parliament with a question to Police Minister Jack Elder.

"Does he consider that the police inquiry into the Christchurch creche sexual abuse allegations was objective and reliable, given the revelation that the detective in charge had intimate relationships with two of the complainants' mothers and had a history of psychiatric problems, and has he approached the minister of justice about the doubts this raises on the outcome of the case?" he asked.

Associate Treasurer Tuariki Delamere, answering on behalf of Mr Elder, said Mr Ellis' counsel was following a legal process under the Crimes Act and he could not comment further.

Mr Doone told the committee he did not know how long an inquiry would take but it could last for months.

- NZPA